Risk factors associated with the progression of overactive bladder among patients with type 2 diabetes

To investigate the risk factors specific to diabetes mellitus that influence the progression of overactive bladder in Chinese population.

A total of 457 patients who were diagnosed with overactive bladder and diabetes mellitus at the Department of Endocrinology and Urinary Surgery Center of Zhejiang University Jinhua Hospital were enrolled from July 2015 to July 2018. Patients were assessed using a questionnaire and then divided into two groups according to the severity score: mild overactive bladder group and the moderate-severe overactive bladder group. Logistic analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with the progression of overactive bladder in diabetic patients.

Among the 457 patients with diabetes mellitus and overactive bladder, there was a significant difference in the severity of overactive bladder, age, diabetes duration, symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy as well as ankle reflex (P < .05) between the two groups. Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that age (OR: 1.59, P = .036), duration of diabetes (OR: 1.41, P = .049) and symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy (OR: 2.39, P = .012) were independent risk factors for the progression of overactive bladder.

In Chinese diabetic patients, overactive bladder progression is closely related with the severity of diabetes mellitus. Age, diabetic duration and symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy are independent predictors of the severity of overactive bladder. Patients with symptomatic diabetic peripheral neuropathy are at risk of overactive bladder.