Abstract
The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is very high in the population, micturition symptoms are common in men over the age of 50, the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) is higher among women and rises with age as well. In terms of epidemiology, OAB is more prevalent than for example diabetes mellitus.
Among men especially, various types of LUTS can end up getting combined. In some EU countries, like Spain or the UK, diagnostics and treatment of LUTS is fully within the scope of primary care practitioners.
In our country, prescription of most of the relevant drugs is limited to specialised urologists, which can be advantageous in terms of enabling better differential diagnostics of various disorders. Internists and GPs should keep this high rate of LUTS manifestations in mind, actively look for these symptoms during preventive examinations and to refer patients for urological examinations.
An overactive bladder will not kill the patient, but it will take a piece of their life away from them.