Trends of Overactive Bladder and Pharmacologic Treatment Among U.S. Women

To evaluate and consider how prescribing practices have changed in relation to high-risk overactive bladder (OAB) medications.

The objective of this study was to evaluate trends in the prevalence of OAB and pharmacologic treatment over time in the United States.

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2001-2018, n = 30,478) and the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS, 2003-2019, n = 251,330) were used to identify women with symptomatic incontinence and overactive bladder (OAB) (NHANES) as well as determine the frequency of prescription use for OAB medications (NHANES and NAMCS) using sampling-based weights. Joinpoint regression was used to determine adjusted annual percent change (APC, adjusting for race, age, body mass index, and insurance status). Trends were assessed overall and by race, age, body mass index, and insurance status.

The prevalence of OAB was 31.2% in the final survey year of NHANES (2017-2018). Women aged >65 years had the highest prevalence of OAB at 54% compared with other age groups. There was an overall increase in OAB (APC 1.24 [0.64, 1.84], P  = 0.002) over time. Overall, only 3.5% of patients with symptoms of OAB reported pharmacologic treatment in NHANES. The NAMCS demonstrated a significant decrease in anticholinergic prescriptions from 2003 until 2019 (APC -6.44 [-9.77, -2.98], P  = 0.001). However, in NHANES, there was no significant change in anticholinergic use (APC 0.62 [-20.2, 26.8], P  = 0.944). There was a stable prevalence of β 3 -adrenergic agonist prescriptions since they were introduced to market (APC 0.65 [-2.24, 3.62], P  = 0.616).

This study demonstrates an increasing prevalence of OAB and highlights the likely undertreatment of symptomatic patients. The high and increasing prevalence coupled with the relative undertreatment of OAB underscores the importance of screening for this condition.