BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - The aim of our study was to investigate the association between overactive bladder and fibromyalgia syndrome in adults aged 40 and older. To investigate the association between overactive bladder and fibromyalgia syndrome, the study used two questionnaires - the widespread pain index (WPI), and the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS). These tools are widely used for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome and overactive bladder.
Fibromyalgia syndrome is a condition with chronic widespread pain and multiple symptoms including chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and irritable bladder syndrome. However, there has been no study conducted about the association of overactive bladder and fibromyalgia syndrome.
Our result showed that overactive bladder is associated with fibromyalgia syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome increases with the severity of overactive bladder after adjustment for gender, age group, and area of residence.
Fibromyalgia syndrome and overactive bladder share a common etiology of neurotransmitter abnormality. In both diseases, there is an increase in the number of unmyelinated C fibers and of rapidly transmitting myelinated A-delta fibers, which are related to neurotransmitter defects such as serotonin or norepinephrine.
The essential limitation of our study was that subjects who had urinary tract infections were not excluded by routine urine analysis. This bias could have led to an overestimation of our results. However, the present study should be of value since it is the first pilot study of the association between fibromyalgia syndrome and overactive bladder. Moreover, we present a possible common etiology between the two diseases.
A large-scale cohort study should be performed to investigate the association of fibromyalgia syndrome and overactive bladder. To confirm the common etiology of two diseases, animal studies should be performed, as well. More information about the association between fibromyalgia syndrome and overactive bladder will be very useful in the effective treatment of both conditions.
Written by:
Hong Sang Moon, MD, PhD as part of Beyond the Abstract on UroToday.com. This initiative offers a method of publishing for the professional urology community. Authors are given an opportunity to expand on the circumstances, limitations etc... of their research by referencing the published abstract.
Associate Professor, Department of Urology
College of Medicine, Hanyang University
Adjunct Professor, Department of Medical System Engineering
Gwangju Institute of Science Technology (GIST)
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The association between overactive bladder and fibromyalgia syndrome: A community survey - Abstract
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