Overactive bladder in the old age and methods of treatment in primary care

Abstract

Overactive bladder is characterized by episodes of urgency, micturition frequency, nycturia and, in majority of patients by urgent incontinence. It occurs frequently in older people and the prevalence increases with advancing age. 11-16% of adult population is affected and up to 20-30% of elderly persons above 70 years.

The treatment of choice are antimuscarinic drugs which supress detrusor contraction by mechanism of blocking M3 and M2 muscarinic receptors in the bladder.

Keywords

• overactive bladder
• urgency
• urge incontinence
• elderly
• pharmacotherapy
• antimuscarinic drugs
• primary care