Pelvic organ prolapse quantification in women referred with overactive bladder

Introduction and hypothesis

A study was carried out to investigate the relationship of anterior vaginal wall descent or prolapse to overactive bladder and its potential mechanisms, advancing the management of overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods

Two hundred twenty-six consecutive women with OAB symptoms were prospectively studied using OAB questionnaire (OAB-q) and pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q). According to POP-Q staging, they were divided into three groups: stages 0, I, and II. For statistical analysis, a one-way ANOVA was used to test for significant differences with Student–Newman–Keuls post hoc analysis for continuous variables (OAB-q symptom severity, health-related quality of life total scores, and age) and chi-squared test for discrete variable (number of menopausal women).

Results

Twenty-two women (9.73%) did not show any prolapse on examination; 204 (90.26%) had anterior vaginal wall descent or prolapse. The outcome statistics denoted that the difference in OAB-q scores among three groups has statistical significance (P?<?0.05). Anterior vaginal wall descent or prolapse may have associations with OAB.

Conclusions

Anterior vaginal wall descent or prolapse may have associations with OAB and is directly correlated to OAB severity.