Overactive Bladder Strongly Linked to Sarcopenia in Older Adults, finds study
A new study has found that older individuals with overactive bladder (OAB) were significantly more likely to have sarcopenia, a disease characterized by muscle weakness and reduced physical function. The study was published in the International Journal of Urology by Suguru Ito and colleagues..
OAB is one of the conditions prevalent in the elderly, with frequent micturition, urgency, and incontinence, whereas sarcopenia is a loss of strength and function of the muscles. It is imperative that one appreciates the relationship between these two conditions since both are linked to an increased risk of falls, decreased mobility, and poor quality of life. This study is the first to investigate the association between OAB and sarcopenia with the use of validated screening measures within a large population-based sample.
The study employed a questionnaire-based, population-based design to enroll older adults living in various parts of Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. Data were gathered between 2021 and 2022 using two validated screening measures:
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS): A survey that evaluates OAB symptom severity, such as frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence.
Strength, Walk Assistance, Rise from Chair, Climb Stairs, and Falls (SARC-F): Sarcopenia screening, measuring muscle strength, mobility, and falls risk.
Study Population:
Total responses: 9,008 (3,798 men, 5,210 women).
Median age: 74 years.
Inclusion criteria: ≥65 years old, fully completed questionnaires.
Definitions:
OAB: Defined by International Continence Society criteria, as per OABSS scores.
Sarcopenia: Defined by the SARC-F questionnaire, which evaluates physical function and mobility.
Key Findings
Prevalence of OAB and Sarcopenia:
OAB occurred in 27% of subjects (34% in men, 23% in women, p < 0.001).
Sarcopenia occurred in 12% of subjects, with a greater prevalence in women (13%) than men (10%) (p < 0.001).
Association Between OAB and Sarcopenia:
In univariable analysis, OAB was significantly related to all items of SARC-F, which shows a robust relationship between symptoms of the bladder and decreased muscle function.
All items of OABSS were also related to sarcopenia, showing a two-way correlation between the two conditions.
Multivariable Analysis Results:
In multivariable analysis, controlling for age and sex, OAB was still significantly related to all items of SARC-F except "assistance with walking."
Sarcopenia was related to all items of OABSS except "frequency."
Falls were highly correlated with the OABSS items "nocturia" and "urgency urinary incontinence (UUI)," showing increased fall risk in these patients.
The study authors showed a significant association between OAB and sarcopenia among older adults with a particularly higher risk of falls in those having nocturia and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI). These results suggest the need for combined screening and targeted interventions for both conditions in order to ensure improved health outcomes among older adults.
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