[Correlation between age and overactive bladder symptoms in young women in Brazil].

UNLABELLED

Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OAB) is defined by the ICS (International Continence Society) as urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence and frequently associated with increase of frequency and nocturia.

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to establish a correlation between OAB symptoms and Age in women aged 20-45.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We interviewed 1050 women aged 20-45 in the area of Campinas, Brazil, to investigate the prevalence of Overactive Bladder Symptoms. In this study we used the ICIQ-OAB questionnaire (ICS standard), in its validated Portuguese version and a specific questionnaire for the demographics.

RESULTS

Overall, women aged 35-45 years showed significantly higher scores in the ICIQ-OAB questionnaire than all other groups (P<.001). Older women (35-45) presented a significantly higher score than younger women (all other groups) (P<.0001) regarding urinary frequency. Regarding frequency, there was a significant difference between the age group 35-45 (higher score) and the age groups 20-22 and 23-27 (P<.0001). Women aged 35-45 presented significantly more nocturia than women in the age groups of 28-34, 23-27 and 20-22. Women in the group of 28-34 also presented more nocturia than women aged 20-22 (P<.0001). Women aged 35-45 experienced more urgency than those in the age groups of 28-34 and 23-27 (P<.0001). Women aged 35-45 had significantly more urgency incontinence than all the other groups, and women in group of 20-22 also presented more incontinence than those aged 23-27 (P<.0001). Significant differences were also found regarding symptom bother, women in group 35-45 years old presented higher scores than the other groups regarding frequency (P<.0001), nocturia (P=.0011), urgency (P=.0015) and urgency incontinence (P<.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, older women present more OAB symptoms and therefore a higher score than younger women.