{{Short description|Condition where a person has a frequent need to urinate}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Overactive bladder | synonyms = Overactive bladder syndrome | image = Illu bladder.jpg | field = Urology | symptoms = Frequent feeling of needing to urinate, incontinence | complications = UTIs, anxiety | onset = More common with age<ref name=AUA2014/> | duration = Chronic | types = Age-related, or Secondary to other illness | causes = Old age; detrusor muscle injury; over-consumption of water and caffeine; UTI; pelvic injury | risks = Old age, obesity, caffeine, constipation | diagnosis = Based on symptoms after ruling out other possible causes<ref name=AUA2015/><ref name=AUA2014/> | differential = Other neurological conditions<ref name=AUA2015/><ref name=AUA2014/> | prevention = | treatment = Pelvic floor exercises, bladder training, drinking moderate fluids, weight loss,<ref name=AUA2012/> medications, Botox, surgery | medication = Anticholinergic drugs, β3 agonists | prognosis = Often but not always incurable | frequency = ~40% of elderly adults, increasing with age | deaths = }}<!-- Definition and symptoms --> '''Overactive bladder''' ('''OAB''') is a common condition where there is a frequent feeling of needing to urinate to a degree that it negatively affects a person's life.<ref name="AUA2015">{{cite journal | vauthors = Gormley EA, Lightner DJ, Faraday M, Vasavada SP | title = Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guideline amendment | journal = The Journal of Urology | volume = 193 | issue = 5 | pages = 1572–80 | date = May 2015 | pmid = 25623739 | doi = 10.1016/j.juro.2015.01.087 }}</ref> Overactive bladder is characterized by a group of four symptoms: urgency, urinary frequency, nocturia, and urge incontinence.
Urinary frequency is defined as urinating more than about 7-8 times in one day.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Overactive Bladder |url=https://www.yourpelvicfloor.org/conditions/overactive-bladder/ |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=Your Pelvic Floor |language=en-US}}</ref> The frequent need to urinate may occur during the day, at night, or both.<ref>{{cite web |title=Urinary Bladder, Overactive |url=https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/#/record/ui?ui=D053201 |access-date=1 June 2015}}</ref> The number of episodes varies depending on sleep, fluid intake, medications, and up to seven is considered normal if consistent with the other factors.<ref name=":4" />
In addition, patients with OAB experience urinary urgency, a sudden feeling that they have to get to the bathroom very quickly.
Lastly, they may experience nocturia, which is waking up at night to urinate.<ref name=":4" />
Loss of bladder control ('''urge incontinence''') is a form of urinary incontinence characterized by the involuntary loss of urine occurring for no apparent reason while feeling urinary urgency as discussed above, and often occurs with this condition.<ref name="AUA2014" /> This condition is also sometimes characterized by a sudden and involuntary contraction of the bladder muscles, in response to excitement or anticipation.
OAB is distinct from stress urinary incontinence (SUI), but when they occur together, the condition is usually known as mixed urinary incontinence.<ref name=":6">{{Citation |last1=Harris |first1=Shauna |title=Mixed Urinary Incontinence |date=2024 |work=StatPearls |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534234/ |access-date=2024-03-07 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=30480967 |last2=Riggs |first2=John}}</ref> Treatment of mixed urinary incontinence usually focuses on the more bothersome component between OAB and SUI.<ref name=":4" />
Overactive bladder affects approximately 11% of the population and more than 40% of people with overactive bladder have incontinence.<ref name=Ron2008>{{cite book|last1=Gibbs|first1=Ronald S.|title=Danforth's obstetrics and gynecology|date=2008|publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins|location=Philadelphia|isbn=978-0-7817-6937-2|pages=890–891|edition=10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v4krPhqFG8sC&pg=PA890|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305003549/https://books.google.ca/books?id=v4krPhqFG8sC&pg=PA890|archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Hargreaves |first1=Emma |last2=Baker |first2=Katherine |last3=Barry |first3=Gill |last4=Harding |first4=Christopher |last5=Zhang |first5=Yingying |last6=Kandala |first6=Ngianga-Bakwin |last7=Zhang |first7=Xiaowen |last8=Kernohan |first8=Ashleigh |last9=Clarkson |first9=Carl E |date=2022-09-23 |editor-last=Cochrane Incontinence Group |title=Acupuncture for treating overactive bladder in adults |journal=Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |language=en |volume=2022 |issue=9 |article-number=CD013519 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD013519.pub2 |pmc=9502659 |pmid=36148895 }}</ref> Conversely, about 40% to 70% of urinary incontinence is due to overactive bladder.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ghosh|first1=Amit K.|title=Mayo Clinic internal medicine concise textbook|date=2008|publisher=Mayo Clinic Scientific Press|location=Rochester, MN|isbn=978-1-4200-6751-4|page=339|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YJtodBwNxokC&pg=PA339|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042857/https://books.google.ca/books?id=YJtodBwNxokC&pg=PA339|archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> Overactive bladder is not life-threatening,<ref name=AUA2014/> but most people with the condition have problems for years.<ref name=AUA2014>{{cite web|author=American Urological Association|title=Diagnosis and Treatment of Overactive Bladder (Non-Neurogenic) in Adults: AUA/SUFU Guideline|url=http://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Overactive-Bladder.pdf|access-date=1 June 2015|date=2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150426225530/http://www.auanet.org/common/pdf/education/clinical-guidance/Overactive-Bladder.pdf|archive-date=26 April 2015}}</ref>
<!-- Cause and diagnosis --> == Pathophysiology == The cause of overactive bladder is unknown.<ref name="AUA2014" /> It is often associated with overactivity of the detrusor urinae muscle, a pattern of bladder muscle contraction observed during urodynamics.<ref name="Treatment">{{cite journal |vauthors=Sussman DO |date=September 2007 |title=Overactive bladder: treatment options in primary care medicine |journal=The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association |volume=107 |issue=9 |pages=379–85 |pmid=17908830}}</ref> Risk factors include obesity, caffeine, and constipation.<ref name="Ron2008" /> Poorly controlled diabetes, poor functional mobility, and chronic pelvic pain may worsen the symptoms.<ref name="AUA2014" /> People often have the symptoms for a long time before seeking treatment and the condition is sometimes identified by caregivers.<ref name="AUA2014" />
=== Catheter-related irritation === If bladder spasms occur or there is no urine in the drainage bag when a catheter is in place, the catheter may be blocked by blood, thick sediment, or a kink in the catheter or drainage tubing. Sometimes spasms are caused by the catheter irritating the bladder, prostate or penis. Such spasms can be controlled with medication such as butylscopolamine, although most people eventually adjust to the irritation and the spasms go away.<ref>{{cite web |date=2010-03-09 |title=Urinary catheters |url=https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003981.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204093143/http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003981.htm |archive-date=2010-12-04 |access-date=2010-12-01 |publisher=MedlinePlus, the National Institutes of Health's Web site}}</ref>
== Diagnosis == Diagnosis of OAB is made primarily on the person's signs and symptoms and by ruling out other possible causes such as urinary tract infections, stones, bladder cancer or neurological conditions.<ref name="AUA2015" /><ref name="AUA2014" /><ref name=":4" />
Patients often complete a bladder diary, where they detail the frequency, timing and volume of each time they urinate, in addition to symptoms like urgency, leakage, and fluid intake which provides the provider detailed information about bladder health and function.<ref name=":4" />
For thorough evaluation, patients may require a cystoscopy to rule out anything abnormal within the bladder, and urodynamic testing to further test the bladder function and filling abilities.<ref name=":4" />
OAB causes similar symptoms to some other conditions such as urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder cancer, and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Urinary tract infections often involve pain and hematuria (blood in the urine) which are typically absent in OAB. Bladder cancer usually includes hematuria and can include pain, both not associated with OAB, and the common symptoms of OAB (urgency, frequency, and nocturia) may be absent. BPH frequently includes symptoms at the time of voiding as well as sometimes including pain or hematuria, and all of these are not usually present in OAB.<ref name="Can Urol 2011">{{cite journal |vauthors=Wein A |date=October 2011 |title=Symptom-based diagnosis of overactive bladder: an overview |journal=Canadian Urological Association Journal |volume=5 |issue=Suppl 2 |pages=S135–6 |doi=10.5489/cuaj.11183 |pmc=3193392 |pmid=21989525}}</ref> Diabetes insipidus causes high frequency and volume, though not necessarily urgency.
== Management == Specific treatment of OAB is not always required.<ref name="AUA2014" /> Behavioral therapy, alone or combined with other treatments such as pelvic floor exercises or bladder training, is generally more effective than any other single treatment alone<ref name="AUA2012">{{cite journal |vauthors=Gormley EA, Lightner DJ, Burgio KL, Chai TC, Clemens JQ, Culkin DJ, Das AK, Foster HE, Scarpero HM, Tessier CD, Vasavada SP |date=December 2012 |title=Diagnosis and treatment of overactive bladder (non-neurogenic) in adults: AUA/SUFU guideline |journal=The Journal of Urology |volume=188 |issue=6 Suppl |pages=2455–63 |doi=10.1016/j.juro.2012.09.079 |pmid=23098785}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Balk |first=Ethan M. |last2=Rofeberg |first2=Valerie N. |last3=Adam |first3=Gaelen P. |last4=Kimmel |first4=Hannah J. |last5=Trikalinos |first5=Thomas A. |last6=Jeppson |first6=Peter C. |date=2019-04-02 |title=Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis of Clinical Outcomes |url=https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-3227 |journal=Annals of Internal Medicine |language=en |volume=170 |issue=7 |pages=465–479 |doi=10.7326/M18-3227 |issn=0003-4819|url-access=subscription }}</ref> while often improving patient satisfaction.<ref>{{Cite report |url=https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/topics/urinary-incontinence-update/final-report-2018 |title=Nonsurgical Treatments for Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Systematic Review Update |last=Balk |first=Ethan |last2=Adam |first2=Gaelen P. |last3=Kimmel |first3=Hannah |last4=Rofeberg |first4=Valerie |last5=Saeed |first5=Iman |last6=Jeppson |first6=Peter |last7=Trikalinos |first7=Thomas |date=2018-08-08 |publisher=Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) |doi=10.23970/ahrqepccer212|doi-access=free }}</ref> Weight loss in those who are overweight, decreasing caffeine consumption, and drinking moderate fluids, can also have benefits.<ref name="AUA2012" /> Medications, typically of the anti-muscarinic type, are only recommended if other measures are not effective.<ref name="AUA2012" /> Medications are no more effective than behavioral methods; however, they are associated with side effects, particularly in older people.<ref name="AUA2012" /><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Ruxton K, Woodman RJ, Mangoni AA |date=August 2015 |title=Drugs with anticholinergic effects and cognitive impairment, falls and all-cause mortality in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis |journal=British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology |volume=80 |issue=2 |pages=209–20 |doi=10.1111/bcp.12617 |pmc=4541969 |pmid=25735839}}</ref> Third line therapy includes non-invasive tibial nerve stimulation, bladder botox injections and implantable sacral nerve stimulation devices.<ref name=":4" /> Some non-invasive electrical stimulation methods appear effective while they are in use.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |vauthors=Stewart F, Gameiro LF, El Dib R, Gameiro MO, Kapoor A, Amaro JL |date=December 2016 |title=Electrical stimulation with non-implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=12 |issue=2 |article-number=CD010098 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD010098.pub4 |hdl=2164/8446 |pmc=6463833 |pmid=27935011}}</ref> Urinary catheters or surgery are generally not recommended.<ref name="AUA2012" />
===Lifestyle and behavioral therapy=== Behavioral and lifestyle changes are commonly recommended as the first-line option for treating overactive bladder.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":3" /> These include bladder training, which involves scheduled voiding (urination) and gradually increasing the time between bathroom visits. Pelvic floor exercises, known as Kegel exercises, can help strengthen the muscles that control urination. Fluid management, which focuses on avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol intake, is advised to reduce the rate at which the bladder fills and minimize irritation to the bladder. Weight management and maintaining a healthy diet contribute to overall bladder health, especially when weight loss is able to reduce abdominal compression of the bladder. Adopting these behavioral and lifestyle changes can often improve the condition and enhance the effectiveness of other treatment approaches.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=White |first1=Nicola |last2=Iglesia |first2=Cheryl B. |date=2016-03-01 |title=Overactive Bladder |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889854515001072 |journal=Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America |series=Medical and Advanced Surgical Management of Pelvic Floor Disorders |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=59–68 |doi=10.1016/j.ogc.2015.10.002 |issn=0889-8545 |pmid=26880508 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
Most people are not able to eliminate incontinence and other symptoms of OAB with lifestyle and behavioral modifications alone. However, numerous studies have demonstrated that these therapies are effective in improving quality of life, and some data shows that they increase the likelihood that medications can keep the OAB under control.<ref name=":5" />
===Medications=== Medications are a common treatment option for people with overactive bladder syndrome. A number of antimuscarinic drugs (e.g., darifenacin, hyoscyamine, oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin, trospium, fesoterodine) are frequently used to treat overactive bladder.<ref name="Treatment"/> Long term use, however, has been linked to dementia.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Araklitis G, Cardozo L | title = Safety issues associated with using medication to treat overactive bladder | journal = Expert Opinion on Drug Safety | volume = 16 | issue = 11 | pages = 1273–1280 | date = November 2017 | pmid = 28889761 | doi = 10.1080/14740338.2017.1376646 | s2cid = 10862256 }}</ref> β3 adrenergic receptor agonists (e.g., mirabegron, vibegron) may be used, as well.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sacco E, Bientinesi R |date=December 2012 |title=Mirabegron: a review of recent data and its prospects in the management of overactive bladder |journal=Therapeutic Advances in Urology |volume=4 |issue=6 |pages=315–24 |doi=10.1177/1756287212457114 |pmc=3491758 |pmid=23205058}}</ref>
Patients taking Oxybutynin and other anticholinergic drugs experience a 70% reduction of incontinence episode frequency, on average. Approximately 1 in 4 patients experience complete dryness while taking oxybutynin. Therefore, medication management alone is sufficient for a substantial minority, but ''not'' the majority, of patients with overactive bladder.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Diokno |first1=Ananias |last2=Ingber |first2=Michael |date=Nov 2006 |title=Oxybutynin in Detrusor Overactivity |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0094014306000620 |journal=Urologic Clinics of North America |language=en |volume=33 |issue=4 |pages=439–445 |doi=10.1016/j.ucl.2006.06.003|pmid=17011379 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" |- ! colspan="4" style="background-color: #CCEEEE;" | Comparison of overactive bladder medication |- ! Agent ! Traits |- | Oxybutynin (short-acting) | *well known by physicians *available in market longer than other drugs for OAB *many studies provide support of effectiveness *available as generic in places including the United States *more side effects than alternatives, including dry mouth and constipation *severe dry mouth more often reported *user takes 2-3 pills a day |- | Oxybutynin (extended release) | *fewer side effects than short-acting Oxybutynin *1 pill per day |- | Oxybutynin (transdermal patch) | *no pill *patch changed every 3–4 days *lower rate of dry mouth as compared to pill form *patch commonly causes skin irritation which can be severe |- | Oxybutynin (Topical medication) | *fewer side effects than short-acting Oxybutynin *topical gel applied to abdomen, arms, or thighs daily *new on market *little existing research on this drug |- | Tolterodine (short-acting) | *fewer side effects than short-acting Oxybutynin *2 pills per day *10% of Caucasians and 19% of black people have a genetic difference which causes them to lack a certain enzyme. Lack of this enzyme makes the drug less effective. |- | Tolterodine (extended release) | *fewer side effects than short-acting Oxybutynin *1 pill per day *10% of Caucasians and 19% of black people have a genetic difference which causes them to lack a certain enzyme. Lack of this enzyme makes the drug less effective. |- | Solifenacin | *1 pill per day *More effective for some symptoms than Tolterodine *higher rates of constipation and dry mouth than tolterodine *less researched for safety and efficacy than Tolterodine and Oxybutynin |- | Trospium (short acting) | *severe dry mouth less common than with oxybutynin *less researched for safety and efficacy than Tolterodine and Oxybutynin |- | Trospium (extended release) | *1 pill per day *little existing research on this drug |- | Darifenacin | *1 pill per day *less researched for safety and efficacy than Tolterodine and Oxybutynin |- | Fesoterodine | *same metabolite as Tolterodine, but does not require that enzyme to be active *it may avoid drug interactions of Tolterodine *little existing research on this drug |- |}
=== Procedures === Botulinum toxin A (Botox) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration in adults with neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.<ref>{{cite news | work = Reuters | date = 24 August 2008 | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-fda-allergan-idUSTRE77N5BH20110824 | title = FDA approves Botox for loss of bladder control | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154821/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/24/us-fda-allergan-idUSTRE77N5BH20110824 | archive-date = 24 September 2015 }}</ref> Botulinum Toxin A injections into the bladder wall can suppress involuntary bladder contractions by blocking nerve signals and may be effective for up to 9 months.<ref>{{cite book |last= Chancellor|first= Michael B |author2=Christopher Smith |title= Botulinum Toxin in Urology |publisher= Springer |date=August 2011 |isbn= 978-3-642-03579-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sacco E, Paolillo M, Totaro A, Pinto F, Volpe A, Gardi M, Bassi PF | year = 2008 | title = Botulinum toxin in the treatment of overactive bladder | journal = Urologia | volume = 75 | issue = 1| pages = 4–13 | pmid = 21086369 | doi = 10.1177/039156030807500102 | s2cid = 208149855 }}</ref> The growing knowledge of pathophysiology of overactive bladder fueled a huge amount of basic and clinical research in this field of pharmacotherapy.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sacco E, Bientinesi R | year = 2012 | title = Future perspectives in pharmacological treatments options for overactive bladder syndrome | journal = Eur Urol Review | volume = 7 | issue = 2| pages = 120–126 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Sacco E, Pinto F, Bassi P | title = Emerging pharmacological targets in overactive bladder therapy: experimental and clinical evidences | journal = International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction | volume = 19 | issue = 4 | pages = 583–98 | date = April 2008 | pmid = 18196198 | doi = 10.1007/s00192-007-0529-z | s2cid = 23846583 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Sacco E, etal | year = 2009 | title = Investigational drug therapies for overactive bladder syndrome: the potential alternatives to anticholinergics | journal = Urologia | volume = 76 | issue = 3| pages = 161–177 | doi = 10.1177/039156030907600301 | pmid = 21086288 | s2cid = 208148685 }}</ref>
Overactive bladder may be treated with electrical stimulation, which aims to reduce the contractions of the muscle that tenses around the bladder and causes urine to pass out of it. Both invasive and non-invasive electrical stimulation procedures may be used to treat overactive bladder.<ref name=":0" />
==== Invasive surgeries ==== If non-invasive and pharmacological approaches are not helpful, some people may be eligible for a surgical procedure to treat overactive bladder. Surgical options may include urinary diversion, sacral neuromodulation, or augmentation cystoplasty.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2 April 2019 |title=Overview {{!}} Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women: management {{!}} Guidance {{!}} NICE |url=https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng123 |access-date=2023-04-24 |website=www.nice.org.uk}}</ref>
One surgical intervention, called a cystoplasty, involves the enlargement of the bladder using tissue taken from the patient's ileum, which is part of the small intestine. This procedure is rarely performed, and is only done for patients who have proven resistant to all other forms of treatment. This procedure can greatly enlarge urine volume in the bladder.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Scarneciu |first1=Ioan |last2=Lupu |first2=Sorin |last3=Bratu |first3=Ovidiu Gabriel |last4=Teodorescu |first4=Andreea |last5=Maxim |first5=Laurian Stefan |last6=Brinza |first6=Adrian |last7=Laculiceanu |first7=Alexandru Georgian |last8=Rotaru |first8=Ruxandra Maria |last9=Lupu |first9=Aura-Mihaela |last10=Scarneciu |first10=Camelia Cornelia |date=2021-10-14 |title=Overactive bladder: A review and update |journal=Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine |volume=22 |issue=6 |page=1444 |doi=10.3892/etm.2021.10879 |issn=1792-1015 |pmc=8549091 |pmid=34721686}}</ref>
==Prognosis== Because overactive bladder is most commonly associated with aging, the majority of patients experience symptoms (with or without incontinence) for the rest of their lives. A minority of age-related OAB cases may be cured or indefinitely suppressed by medications and behavioral modification. If the OAB is due to a different condition, such as a urinary tract infection, then symptoms should resolve after the underlying problem has been treated.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Ouslander |first1=Joseph |title=Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine |last2=Reyes |first2=Bernardo |publisher=McGraw Hill |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-264-26850-4 |edition=21st |location=New York |chapter=Chapter 477: Caring for the Geriatric Patient}}</ref>
==Epidemiology== Earlier reports estimated that about one in six adults in the United States and Europe had OAB.<ref name="NOBLE survey">{{cite journal | vauthors = Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, Abrams P, Herzog AR, Corey R, Hunt TL, Wein AJ | title = Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States | journal = World Journal of Urology | volume = 20 | issue = 6 | pages = 327–36 | date = May 2003 | pmid = 12811491 | doi = 10.1007/s00345-002-0301-4 | hdl = 2027.42/42170 | s2cid = 15994916 | hdl-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Milsom et al. 2001">{{cite journal | vauthors = Milsom I, Abrams P, Cardozo L, Roberts RG, Thüroff J, Wein AJ | title = How widespread are the symptoms of an overactive bladder and how are they managed? A population-based prevalence study | journal = BJU International | volume = 87 | issue = 9 | pages = 760–6 | date = June 2001 | pmid = 11412210 | doi = 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2001.02228.x | s2cid = 23650548 }}</ref> The number of people affected with OAB increases with age,<ref name="NOBLE survey"/><ref name="Milsom et al. 2001"/> thus it is expected that OAB will become more common in the future as the average age of people living in the developed world is increasing. However, a recent Finnish population-based survey<ref name="Tikkinen et al. 2007">{{cite journal | vauthors = Tikkinen KA, Tammela TL, Rissanen AM, Valpas A, Huhtala H, Auvinen A | title = Is the prevalence of overactive bladder overestimated? A population-based study in Finland | journal = PLOS ONE | volume = 2 | issue = 2 | article-number = e195 | date = February 2007 | pmid = 17332843 | pmc = 1805814 | doi = 10.1371/journal.pone.0000195 | bibcode = 2007PLoSO...2..195T | editor1-last = Madersbacher | editor1-first = Stephan | doi-access = free }} {{open access}}</ref> suggested that the number of people affected had been largely overestimated due to methodological shortcomings regarding age distribution and low participation (in earlier reports). It is suspected, then, that OAB affects approximately half the number of individuals as earlier reported.<ref name="Tikkinen et al. 2007"/>
The American Urological Association reports studies showing rates as low as 7% to as high as 27% in men and rates as low as 9% to 43% in women.<ref name=AUA2014/> Urge incontinence was reported as higher in women.<ref name=AUA2014/> Older people are more likely to be affected, and the number of symptoms increases with age.<ref name=AUA2014/>
== See also == * National Association For Continence * Underactive bladder
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{cite journal | vauthors = Sacco E, Bientinesi R, Marangi F, D'Addessi A, Racioppi M, Gulino G, Pinto F, Totaro A, Bassi P | title = [Overactive bladder syndrome: the social and economic perspective] | language = it | journal = Urologia | volume = 78 | issue = 4 | pages = 241–56 | date = 2011 | pmid = 22237808 | doi = 10.5301/RU.2011.8886 | s2cid = 36693916 }} * {{cite web | url = https://medlineplus.gov/overactivebladder.html | publisher = U.S. National Library of Medicine | work = MedlinePlus | title = Overactive Bladder }}
{{Urinary tract disease}} {{Urinary system symptoms and signs}} {{Medical resources | meSH2 = D053202 | ICD10 = {{ICD10|N|32|8}}, {{ICD10|N|39|4}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|596.51}}, {{ICD9|788.31}} | OMIM = | DiseasesDB = 3612 | MedlinePlus = 001270 | eMedicineSubj = article | eMedicineTopic = 459340 | MeSH = D053201 | SNOMED CT = 236633002 | ICD10CM = {{ICD10CM|N32.81}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Overactive Bladder}} Category:Urinary bladder disorders Category:Wikipedia medicine articles ready to translate Category:Wikipedia emergency medicine articles ready to translate