Fluid intake behavior in women with refractory overactive bladder undergoing third line therapy

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Women's Health
• Nephrology

Background:

• Fluid intake is linked to urinary symptoms, but its specific impact on refractory overactive bladder (OAB) in women remains understudied.
• Refractory OAB may involve unique pathophysiological mechanisms, necessitating investigation into lifestyle factors like fluid consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between fluid intake, fluid intake behaviors, and urinary symptoms in women diagnosed with refractory overactive bladder (OAB).
• To identify potential correlations between fluid consumption patterns and the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cross-sectional study involving 126 women undergoing third-line OAB therapies.
• Fluid intake and behaviors were assessed using a voiding diary; urinary symptoms were measured with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire for Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-FLUTS).
• Statistical analyses included Spearman's rank correlation and chi-squared tests to evaluate the relationship between fluid intake and symptom severity.

Main Results:

• Total daily fluid intake (mean 2567.0 mL) did not significantly differ across treatment groups (onabotulinumtoxinA, tibial nerve stimulation, sacral neuromodulation).
• A weak correlation was found between total fluid intake and worse filling-type LUTS (r=0.241, p=0.007); no association was observed with caffeinated intake.
• While 52% of participants restricted fluids, this behavior did not correlate with LUTS severity. Current tobacco use (p<0.001) and higher BMI (r=0.351, p<0.001) were positively correlated with increased LUTS and incontinence symptoms, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Fluid intake appears to have a minimal relationship with symptomology in women with refractory OAB.
• Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use and body mass index (BMI) show a more significant association with urinary symptoms in this cohort.
• Further research is warranted to explore how behavioral changes during OAB treatment influence therapeutic outcomes.