An established link exists between overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome and impaired sleep. However, earlier research on this subject only focused on the general population; certain patient subgroups have not been examined adequately. Depressed patients compose a unique population because of a possible bidirectional relationship between OAB and depression. Thus, we investigated the association between OAB symptoms and sleep quality of depressed patients.
In this prospective, cross-sectional study, we analyzed data on depression, sleep quality, and OAB symptoms from depressed patients treated in our department of adult psychiatry. Data were collected with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Holland Sleep Disorders Questionnaire, the Athens Insomnia Scale, and the OAB Module of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire.
One hundred two patients treated for depression were enrolled. Thirteen patients (12.7%) met a diagnostic threshold of OAB with the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire OAB Module. A group of depressed patients with concomitant OAB had significantly higher scores from the Holland Sleep Disorders Questionnaire compared with patients classified as non-OAB (p<0.01). OAB patients had also a higher risk of insomnia relative to non-OAB individuals (p<0.05). In addition, the relationship between OAB symptoms and sleep quality in depressed patients was independent from age and sex.
In our exclusive cohort of individuals treated for depression, OAB symptoms were present in a significant proportion of patients, and OAB negatively affected sleep quality. Therefore, we recommend that OAB symptoms should be assessed collectively for patients with depression.
International neurourology journal. 2021 Jan 19 [Epub ahead of print]
Mikolaj Przydacz, Tomasz Golabek, Przemyslaw Dudek, Michal Skalski, Jerzy Sobanski, Katarzyna Klasa, Katarzyna Gronostaj, Dominika Dudek, Piotr Chlosta
Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland., Department of Adult Psychiatry, University Hospital, Krakow, Poland., Department of Psychotherapy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland., Department of Affective Disorders, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland.