Predictors of antimuscarinic treatment response for female patients with overactive bladder

Purpose: To analyze the predictors of the antimuscarinic treatment response for female patients with an overactive bladder (OAB). Materials and Methods: Eighty women diagnosed with an OAB, who had also undergone 3 months of treatment with propiverine hydrochloride (20mg/ day), were enrolled. All patients were assessed by history taking, physical examination, urinalysis, frequency/volume charts and urodynamic study (UDS) prior to treatment; frequency/volume charts and a patients' satisfaction were analyzed 3 months after treatment. Patients were divided into satisfied, moderate and unsatisfied groups according to their subjective satisfaction. Results: Subgroups according to the patients' subjective satisfaction included 57, 14 and 9 patients for satisfied, moderate and unsatisfied group, respectively. In the UDS, detrusor overactivity was noted in 15 patients of the satisfied group, 2 of the moderate group, but none of the unsatisfied group. Maximum detrusor pressure and detrusor pressure at maximum flow were higher in the unsatisfied group. The incidence of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) was higher in the moderate and unsatisfied groups. In pre-treatment frequency/volume chart, the frequency of urge symptom was significantly increased in the satisfied group. Comparing the pre- and post-treatment frequency/volume charts revealed that the satisfied and moderate groups showed decreased frequency and nocturia, and increased functional bladder capacity compared to unsatisfied group after treatment. Conclusions: The efficacy of antimuscarinic treatment in female OAB could be associated with the frequency of urge symptom, detrusor overactivity and BOO; an UDS may aid in predicting the efficacy of antimuscarinic treatment.