Potential benefits of diagnosis and treatment on health outcomes among elderly people with symptoms of overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined potential benefits of diagnosing and treating elderly adults with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. METHODS: Data were analysed from the OAB Re-Contact Study (N = 2750), a cross-sectional, self-reported Internet survey. Elderly respondents (65+ years old) with OAB were identified according to current medication use to control OAB symptoms or by scores > 14 (men) or > 16 (women) on the OAB Awareness Tool. Treated were those currently using prescription medication and never treated were those who never used prescription medication for OAB. Outcome measures included health-related quality of life, activity impairment, OAB-related severity and symptoms, and healthcare resource use (e.g. hospitalisations). Generalised linear models predicted health outcomes as a function of diagnosis or treatment, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Diagnosed vs. not diagnosed elderly respondents had higher mental component summary (MCS) scores and SF-6D health utilities, and less activity impairment. Treated vs. never treated elderly respondents had higher MCS and SF-6D health utilities, less activity impairment, fewer OAB symptoms, lower OAB Awareness Tool scores, and lower odds of having bladder problems or incontinence. There were no significant differences in healthcare resource use. Further analysis by age group (middle-aged vs. elderly respondents) revealed significantly greater diagnosis- and treatment-related benefits on MCS (2.93 and 4.49 points more, respectively) and activity impairment (1.24 and 1.37 times as much, respectively) among elderly respondents. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis and treatment were each associated with a lower health burden for elderly adults with OAB symptoms. These findings highlighted the importance of diagnosis and treatment in alleviating OAB symptoms and their impact on health outcomes.

Prevalence, management and outcomes of medically complex vulnerable elderly patients with urinary incontinence in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence, patient-physician communication, treatment and health outcomes associated with urinary incontinence (UI) among the medically complex vulnerable elderly (MCVE) in the United States (US). METHODS: Data from the 2006 to 2012 Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) were used. MCVE patients were aged 65+ years with a HOS VE score ≥ 3. UI was reported as a small, big or no problem. Descriptive statistics were used to assess patient-physician communication and treatment. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to assess the association of small or big UI problems with various outcomes. RESULTS: The annual UI prevalence increased among MCVE [from 35.8% (2006) to 38.6% (2012)]. MCVE with big UI problems communicated with their physicians more often than those with small UI problems (77.9% and 49.6%, respectively); however, treatment of UI remained low (48.5% and 29.1%, respectively). Physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were lower among MCVE with small or big UI problems compared with those with no UI problems, respectively. The decrements in PCS and MCS scores associated with big UI problems were greater than the decrements associated with any of the other assessed conditions. MCVE with small or big UI problems, respectively, were more likely to report past falls, depression and activity daily living limitations vs. those without UI. The odds of having experienced these outcomes were greater for those with big UI vs. small UI problems. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary incontinence prevalence in the USA increased among MCVE from 2006 to 2012, although treatment of UI remained low. UI problems, particularly big UI problems, adversely impact health outcomes. Efforts to better identify and manage UI among the MCVE are needed.