Pathophysiology, diagnostics and therapeutic implications

Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by a sudden, often uncontrollable urge to urinate, with or without urge incontinence, typically accompanied by pollakiuria and nocturia. In industrialized nations, it is estimated that up to 16% of the population suffers from OAB symptoms, with the prevalence rising to over 30% in older people over the age of 65. At the same time, many men with benign prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) also complain of storage disorders, which can manifest as OAB.