The prevalence of probable overactive bladder, associated risk factors and its effect on quality of life among Turkish midwifery students.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the associated risk factors of probable overactive bladder (OAB) and to determine the effect of OAB on quality of life through validated questionnaires in Turkish midwifery students.

STUDY DESIGN

279 midwifery students were invited to participate, and 265 (95.0%) were included in the study, which was approved by the local ethics committees. The relationship between quality of life and probable OAB was evaluated using Turkish language-validated questionnaires (OABq SF, NQOL). Chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression were used for the statistical analysis, and p<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

The participants' mean age was 21.74 ± 2.15 years. The prevalence of OAB was 35.4%. There was a significant relationship between the presence of probable OAB and familial urinary incontinence history and childhood nocturnal enuresis. In the logistic regression analysis, family history was associated with an OR of 2.11 (95% CI: 1.08-4.10) for OAB, and nocturia with an OR of 2.69 (95% CI: 1.16-6.21) for OAB. Drinking moderate amounts of tea and carbonated drinks daily did not affect OAB, but extreme consumption of these beverages was associated with an OR of 2.98 (95% CI: 1.26-7.03) for OAB. OAB significantly worsens quality of life according to all the quality of life indices.

CONCLUSION

OAB is not a rare condition among young people. It appears that the quality of life was adversely influenced by OAB among both younger and older people. Familial urinary incontinence and childhood nocturnal enuresis were found to be risk factors for OAB. There is insufficient evidence to restrict tea or carbonated drinks consumption in young people with OAB unless their consumption is extreme.