OAB epidemiological survey of general gynaecology outpatients and its effects on patient quality of life

Aims To survey the prevalence rate of overactive bladder (OAB) among general gynaecology outpatients, it's connection to common benign gynaecological diseases and its effects on patient quality of life (QOL). Method A questionnaire survey on urination and its effects on QOL was administered to 2500 general gynaecology outpatients aged ≥18 who visited our hospital which is in Peking between October and November 2012. Additionally, their menstrual history and diseases were documented, according to their medical records. Results In total, 2161 effective questionnaires (86.4%) were collected from the respondents, who were aged 18–97 years. The overall OAB prevalence rate was 8.8% (191/2161), and the OAB prevalence rate in women >50 years was significantly higher (X2 = 7.656, P < 0.05). Moreover, the OAB prevalence rate (25.8%) among patients suffering from pelvic organ prolapse was significantly higher than the rate (8.6%) among patients without pelvic organ prolapse (X2 = 11.238, P < 0.05). Multi-factor logistic regression indicated that age (OR = 1.504, 95% CI = 1.072–2.111) and pelvic organ prolapse (OR = 2.512, 95% CI = 1.109–5.688) were risk factors for OAB among the respondents. Additionally, with the rise of OAB severity, its effects on the QOL of OAB patients, like urinary urgency, nocturia, frequency and urge incontinence increased accordingly. Conclusions The OAB prevalence rate among general gynaecology outpatients was 8.8%, and the effects of OAB on QOL increased with the worsening of the disease. Neurourol. Urodynam. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.