Overactive bladder may be a marker of obstructive sleep apnoea or cardiometabolic risk
The lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) nocturia, urgency and frequency are grouped as “storage symptoms”. When troublesome, the presence of urgency plus one other symptom constitute overactive bladder (OAB).1 Dysfunction or irritability of the detrusor muscle of the urinary bladder is a primary cause of these symptoms, although coexistent prostatic disorders may be contributory. Based on American Urological Association symptom index scores, OAB affects about 25% of Australian men over the age of 40 years, and almost 50% of Australian men over the age of 70.2 It is associated with significant distress and very high direct and indirect costs.3
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This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (Project Grant No. 627227).
Peter Sutherland is a member of the Lilly and Pfizer advisory boards and has received research funding and speaking fees from both. Gary Wittert is the Independent Chair of the Weight Management Council Australia and receives research support from Weight Watchers.