Menopause linked to bladder woes

Overactive bladder (OAB) is common among women undergoing menopause, especially among those at late menopausal stage and who have other menopausal symptoms, as reported in a cross-sectional study.

Researchers used data from the Total Healthcare Center in South Korea and identified 3,469 middle-aged women (mean age 49.5 years). The women were grouped according to their menopausal stage, defined using the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop +10 criteria. Menopausal symptoms were also evaluated using the Korean version of Menopause-Specific Quality of Life (MENQOL).

Logistic regression models were developed to determine the prevalence of OAB, assessed using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS), in relation to menopausal stage and menopausal symptoms.

Results indicated a progressive increase in OAB prevalence across menopausal stages, although the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios for women in menopausal transition and postmenopausal stage lacked significance relative to those for premenopausal women (p=0.160 for trend).

When individual OAB symptoms were analysed, nocturia showed a dose-response association with menopausal stage (p=0.005 for 1 episode/day; p<0.001 for ≥2 episodes/day). Of note, the association between nocturia ≥2 episodes/day and menopausal stages was pronounced even among women without OAB and with relatively high MENQOL scores, vasomotor symptoms, and difficulty sleeping.

In light of the findings, the researchers highlighted the importance of addressing nocturia as a potential menopausal symptom in middle-aged women. They called for additional studies to establish the mechanisms linking OAB with menopausal symptoms in this population.