Prospective and randomized comparison of electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve versus oxybutynin versus their combination for treatment of women with overactive bladder syndrome

Objective

To verify whether the combination of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) with oxybutynin in the treatment of women with overactive bladder (OAB) would be more effective than isolated treatments.

Methods

We randomized 75 women with OAB, in three groups: GI—30 min TENS, twice a week; GII—daily slow release 10 mg oxybutynin; and GIII—TENS + oxybutynin (multimodal); all for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated with validated questionnaires International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), International Consultation on Incontinence-OAB (ICIQ-OAB), Symptom bother, and 3-day Voiding diary at weeks 0, 12, and 24.

Results

The groups were similar before treatment. After treatment, all groups significantly improved in OAB symptoms and quality of life (QoL). At week 12, ICIQ-OAB scores were 5.9, 4.6, and 2.9, in groups I, II, and III, respectively, p = 0.01. At week 24, GI and GIII kept the scores of the end of treatment (week 12), while GII increased ICIQ-OAB from 4.6 to 9.2, p = 0.0001, ICIQ-SF from 9.8 to 13.3, p = 0.0006, and Symptom bother score from 3.4 to 7.0, p = 0.0001.

Conclusions

The multimodal treatment was more effective and TENS alone or in association presented longer lasting results for improvement of clinical symptoms of OAB and QoL.