The Prevalence and Forecast Prevalence of Overactive Bladder in the Medicare Population

Objectives: To determine current and future prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries in the United States. Methods: Prevalence of OAB in US adults ⩾ 65 years was determined using the 2013 Medicare Beneficiary Part B Carrier Claims File, Part D Drug Event File, and Medicare Beneficiary Annual Summary File. Prevalence for 2027 was forecasted with US Census population projections. Regional projections were based on applying national OAB rates by age, sex, and race/ethnicity to zip code tabulation area beneficiary populations. Results: In the 2013 dataset, the prevalence of OAB was 7.2% (male: 7.7%; female: 6.7%). Across demographic categories, prevalence was the highest among those aged more than 74 years (9.3%), identifying as White (7.4%), and residing in urban areas (7.5%). By 2027, OAB is projected to increase by 48.1%. Discussion: OAB affects a substantial proportion of the US fee-for-service beneficiary population, with the prevalent population projected to rise substantially by 2027.