Overactive bladder and cognitive impairment in middle-aged women: A cross-sectional study

Background

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition in middle-aged and older women. It has been reported to be potentially linked to cognitive decline, particularly in older adults. This study investigated the association between OAB symptoms and cognitive impairment in middle-aged women.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study had a sample of 1652 women (mean age 49.3 ± 2.8 years) who were not taking medication for either urinary tract infection or OAB. OAB symptoms and cognitive function were evaluated by self-administered questionnaires: the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score and the Alzheimer's disease 8. Logistic regression models estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for cognitive impairment according to the presence/absence of OAB. Mediation analyses assessed the impact of poor sleep quality on this association.

Results

Cognitive impairment was more prevalent in women with OAB than in those without OAB (multivariable-adjusted PR: 1.88 [95 % CI: 1.52–2.24]). Women experiencing nocturia (≥twice a night), urinary urgency at least once a week, and urgency urinary incontinence at least once a week had multivariable-adjusted PRs (95 % CI) for cognitive impairment of 2.08 (1.50–2.65), 2.12 (1.66–2.58), and 1.75 (1.17–2.34), respectively. Poor sleep quality mediated 10.81 % [95 % CI: 4.55–19.44 %] of the relationship between OAB and cognitive impairment.

Conclusions

Among middle-aged women not taking OAB medications, OAB symptoms were associated with cognitive impairment, partly because of poor sleep quality. Further research is needed to determine whether early screening of patients with OAB can help identify those susceptible to cognitive impairment associated with OAB medication and if preventive measures should be targeted at this group.