[Psychometric validation of the OAB-V8 and OAB-V3 scales for the screening of patients with probable overactive bladder in the Spanish population].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To perform the psychometric validation in the Spanish population of the Overactive Bladder Awareness Tool (OAB-V8) scale and its abbreviated version OAB-V3 for screening patients with probable overactive bladder (OAB).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population aged over 18 years, which was representative of the prevalence of OAB in Spain using an online methodology (Internet survey). Psychometric properties included feasibility, reliability, and validity. Subjects were classified according to the likelihood of OAB, using an automated algorithm validated previously. ROC curve analysis was performed, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were also assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 2,035 subjects with a mean+SD age of 52.7+12.1 years were included (50.8%) men. In total 13.7% were classified as «Probable», 27.9% «Possible», and 58.3% «No» OAB. The internal consistency of both OAB-V8 and OAB-V3 scales was high (0.894 and 0.851, respectively). The item-total correlation coefficients were high; 0.87-0.88 and 0.71-0.83, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient for OAB-V8 was 0.826 (confidence interval 95% 0.695-0.901) and it was 0.828 (confidence interval 0.623-0.922) for OAB-V3. The optimum cut-off value of OAB-V8 for detecting probable OAB was≥8 points (AUC=0.895, sensitivity 0.875, specificity 0.735), while for the OAB-V3 it was ≥ 3 (AUC=0.910, sensitivity 0.828, specificity 0.825).

CONCLUSION

Both OAB-V8 and OAB-V3 scales were considered useful online self-administered screening tools, which were also feasible, reliable and valid for the detection of patients with probable OAB in the general population in Spain.