Antimuscarinic Medication Use in Elderly Patients with Overactive Bladder

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Pharmacology
• Urology
• Public Health

Background:

• Antimuscarinic medications are the primary pharmacological treatment for overactive bladder (OAB).
• Limited data exists on the prescribing patterns of antimuscarinic agents in elderly individuals diagnosed with OAB.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and predictors of antimuscarinic medication prescribing in elderly patients with OAB.
• Utilize national ambulatory survey data to analyze prescribing trends.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study using 2009-2010 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data.
• Included patients aged 65 years and older diagnosed with OAB.
• Employed descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression based on the Anderson Behavioral Model.

Main Results:

• Approximately 41.43% of elderly OAB outpatient visits involved antimuscarinic prescriptions, totaling 0.90 million visits.
• Solifenacin, oxybutynin, and tolterodine were the most commonly prescribed antimuscarinic drugs.
• Patients aged 85 years and older and those in the South region were more likely to receive these medications.

Conclusions:

• Antimuscarinic medications are widely prescribed for OAB in the elderly population.
• Significant variations in antimuscarinic prescribing exist concerning patient age and geographic region.