The impact of overactive bladder on health-related quality of life in Korea: based on the results of a Korean Community Health Survey

• Published in: Quality of life research 2021-04, Vol.30 (4), p.1017-1024
• Main Authors: Kim, Sang-Kyu, Kim, Seon-Ha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bladder; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health surveys; Health Surveys - standards; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; POPULATION-BASED STUDIES; Public Health; Quality of life; Quality of Life - psychology; Quality of Life Research; Republic of Korea; Sociology; Surveys and Questionnaires - standards; Urinary Bladder, Overactive - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0962-9343; 1573-2649
• DOI: 10.1007/s11136-020-02710-3

Purpose This study aimed to assess the impact of overactive bladder on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a community-based sample of Korean population. Methods The data of adults aged 19 and over that who participated in the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey were analyzed. Overactive bladder severity was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe using the Overactive Bladder Symptom scores, and HRQoL was evaluated using EQ-5D-3L. Relations between HRQoL and the severities and symptoms of OAB were investigated. Sampling weighted adjusted multiple regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of OAB symptom severity on HRQoL. Results Of the 226,867 study subjects, 12,303 (5.4%) had OAB, and 552 (0.2%) had an OABSS of ≥ 12, indicating severe OAB. The problem -reporting rate significantly increased in all EQ-5D-3L dimensions as OAB severity increased. After adjusting for other variables, OAB severity had a significant effect on EQ-5D-3L index. Urge incontinence had greatest impact on quality of life. Conclusions As the severity of OAB increased from mild to severe, quality of life decreased significantly. OAB was found to negatively affect HRQoL.