Economic and Social Impact of OAB

• Published in: European urology supplements : official journal of the European Association of Urology 2002-07, Vol.1 (4), p.11-16
• Main Author: Kelleher, Con J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Comorbidity; King’s Health Questionnaire (KHQ); Overactive bladder (OAB); Prevalence; Quality of life
• ISSN: 1569-9056; 1878-1500
• DOI: 10.1016/S1569-9056(02)00043-X

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a highly prevalent, costly, and devastating condition that severely impairs the quality of life of millions of people worldwide. It places a considerable burden on patients, carers, and society as a whole, not only in terms of financial costs, but also in terms of intangibles such as personal suffering. Economic evaluations have tended to focus on urinary incontinence rather than OAB, but nonetheless have estimated annual US treatment costs for urinary incontinence in people over 65 years to be a US$ 26.3 billion (1995 dollars). These costs are expected to rise in line with the aging population and an improved awareness of urinary symptoms and their treatments. An appreciation of the impact of OAB on quality of life is pivotal to our understanding of the need for appropriate treatment and healthcare services. Quality of life in OAB can be measured using generic questionnaires (e.g. Short Form 36) and/or condition-specific quality of life instruments (e.g. King’s Health Questionnaire). Studies have shown that patients with OAB have a poorer quality of life than their age-matched controls, and that treatments directed at the symptoms of OAB can improve quality of life. Data are also accumulating on the association of OAB with other conditions such as falls and fractures, urinary tract and local skin infections, and sexual dysfunction.