Efficacy of medication for overactive bladder symptoms in 70 patients with Parkinson’s disease

Abstract

Background: Managing overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is challenging. This study aimed to investigate the medical management of OAB symptoms in patients with PD. Methods: Patients with OAB symptoms who were newly treated with tolterodine and/or tamsulosin were screened from a database of 187 PD patients. Before treatment, the Hoehn-Yahr scale, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), and urodynamic evaluation were evaluated. On day 21 of treatment, the IPSS and OABSS were re-evaluated. The changes of these scores and urinary symptoms were analyzed. Results: Seventy patients with a mean age of 62.2±7.9 years and median Hoehn-Yahr stage of 2 (IQR 2–3) were enrolled. Tolterodine, tamsulosin, and tolterodine + tamsulosin were used in 43, 20, and 7 patients, respectively. The IPSS storage symptoms (9.4±3 vs. 3.5±2.3) and OABSS (9±2.8 vs. 4.8±3.3) improved significantly after treatment (both P<0.01). However, 28 (40%) patients displayed moderate urinary symptoms, and nocturia and urgency still affected more than half of the patients after treatment. Conclusions: Tolterodine and/or tamsulosin can significantly improve OAB symptoms in PD patients. Nocturia and urgency remain common after treatment.