Symptom-based diagnosis of overactive bladder: An overview - Abstract

Division of Urology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

 

The current definition of overactive bladder (OAB) is "urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia in the absence of an underlying metabolic or pathologic condition." Urgency, in turn, is defined as a "sudden, compelling desire to pass urine that is difficult to defer." While these definitions provide the framework for making a clinical diagnosis of OAB, they rely on subjective assessment of the symptoms by the patient. As well, the symptoms of OAB can be similar to those seen in other conditions, such as urinary tract infection, benign prostatic enlargement and bladder cancer. These other potential diagnoses should be ruled out in a noninvasive manner before making a diagnosis of OAB.

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Wein A.   Are you the author?

Reference: Can Urol Assoc J. 2011 Oct;5(5 Suppl 2):S135-6.
doi: 10.5489/cuaj.11183

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21989525

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