The Risk Factor and The Severity of Symptoms Relation in Women with Overactive Bladder

Aim: To investigate whether risk factors for overactive bladder (OAB) in women are associated with symptom severity and to assess the impact of symptom severity on the quality of life. Material and Method: Symptoms of 100 female patients (aged, 47.70 +/- 12.34 years) who were diagnosed with OAB were assessed using the Boyarsky symptom score (BSS). Data for age, educational status, body mass index (BMI), chronic disease, vaginal deliveries, constipation, smoking, consumption of alcohol, tea, coffee, or carbonated drinks and diets involving spicy food were recorded. Subcategories for each factor regarding quantity were established. The findings were statistically correlated with the BSS and with each urinary symptom individually. Each patient's quality-of-life (QoL) scores were correlated with the severity of each symptom and the total, obstructive and irritative BSS. Results: Urgency was related with BMI, spicy food, vaginal deliveries, menopause, and advanced age. Nocturia had a relation with menopause and advanced age. Total BSS was significantly correlated with coffee consumption. Irritative BSS was correlated with menopause and advanced age and obstructive BSS was correlated with constipation. Total and irritative BSS were both positively correlated with the QoL score. Discusion: Risk factors can affect the severity of symptoms and these factors should be considered when planning therapy