Healthcare and economic burden of anticholinergic use in adults with overactive bladder: a systematic literature review.

Aim: To determine the economic burden associated with anticholinergic medication use in adults with overactive bladder (OAB) in the USA.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify articles assessing healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with anticholinergic use in adults with OAB.

Results

From the 34 articles identified, increased anticholinergic burden, switching anticholinergic treatments and potentially inappropriate anticholinergic use were associated with increased HCRU and/or costs. However, studies comparing patients with OAB receiving anticholinergics to individuals with untreated OAB or without OAB reported a mix of increases and decreases in HCRU and costs.

Conclusion

Additional controlled studies assessing the economic impact of anticholinergics in OAB are needed and may enable optimization of economic and potentially patient outcomes.