Association between metabolic syndrome and overactive bladder: a case-control study

The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association between overactive bladder (OAB) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). The primary hypothesis was that OAB is significantly more prevalent among patients with MetS than in control participants.

A case-control study was conducted among 114 patients, with 57 patients in the MetS group and 57 in the control group. Study participants were recruited in a family medicine practice. They filled out a questionnaire including questions on age, gender, clinical symptoms, lifestyle and coping behaviors, and the Overactive Bladder Validated 8-question Awareness Tool (OAB-V8) questionnaire.

In the MetS group, 74% (n = 42) of patients screened positive on the OAB-V8 questionnaire (score ≥8), which was significantly higher than 29% (n = 17) of patients in the control group (p < 0.001). Lifestyle and coping behaviors associated with OAB were more prevalent in the MetS group. Screening positive on the OAB screening tool was associated with having MetS (p < 0.001), older age (p = 0.004), higher prevalence of using a diuretic (p = 0.002), avoiding places if they think there will not be a restroom (toilet) nearby (p = 0.015), going to the restroom so often that it interferes with things they want to do (p = 0.046) and bladder symptoms making them feel like there is something wrong with them (p < 0.001).

OAB is significantly more prevalent in patients suffering from MetS than in those without MetS. Assessment of the presence and monitoring of OAB should be part of the clinical management of patients with MetS.