Association of overactive bladder and C-reactive protein levels. Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey.

OBJECTIVE

• To investigate the association between overactive bladder (OAB) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a population-based sample of men and women.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

• Epidemiological survey of urological symptoms among men and women aged 30-79 years. A multi-stage stratified cluster design was used to randomly sample 5503 adults from the city of Boston. Analyses were conducted on 1898 men and 1854 women with available CRP levels. • The International Continence Society defines OAB as 'Urgency with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia.' OAB was defined as: (1) urgency, (2) urgency with frequency, and (3) urgency with frequency and nocturia. • Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the CRP and OAB association were estimated using logistic regression.

RESULTS

• Prevalence of OAB increased with CRP levels in both men and women. • In men, adjusted ORs (95% CI) per log(10) (CRP) levels were 1.90 (1.26-2.86) with OAB defined as urgency, 1.65 (1.06-2.58) with OAB defined as urgency and frequency, and 1.92 (1.13-3.28) with OAB defined as urgency, frequency and nocturia. • The association was more modest in women with ORs (95% CI) of 1.53 (1.07-2.18) for OAB as defined urgency, 1.51 (1.02-2.23) for OAB defined as urgency and frequency, and 1.34 (0.85-2.12) for OAB defined as urgency, frequency and nocturia.

CONCLUSIONS

• Results show a consistent association of increasing CRP levels and OAB among both men and women. • These results support our hypothesis for the role of inflammation in the development of OAB and a possible role for anti-inflammatory agents in its treatment.