PURPOSE: Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of current overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms in recently-deployed women veterans, and to determine if OAB symptoms were associated with problems commonly reported after deployment, including mental health symptoms and prior sexual assault.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Baseline data were analyzed from a nationwide cohort study of urogenital symptoms in women veterans. Women returning from Iraq or Afghanistan deployment in the prior two years and ending military service were eligible. Self-reported data were collected by computer-assisted telephone interview. OAB and mental health conditions were identified using standardized definitions and validated urinary and mental health instruments. Associations between OAB and depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and sexual assault were assessed in separate logistic regression models using propensity scores to adjust for confounding.
RESULTS: The 1702 participants had mean (SD) age of 31.1 (8.4) years and were racially/ethnically diverse. Three hundred seventy-five (22%, 95% CI (20.1%, 24.1%)) reported OAB. Mental health outcomes included PTSD (19%), anxiety (21%), depression (10%), and prior sexual assault (27%); all were associated with OAB (adjusted OR (95% CI) = 2.7 (2.0, 3.6), 2.7 (2.0, 3.5), 2.5 (1.5, 4.3), and 1.4 (1.1, 1.9) respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: OAB symptoms occurred in 22% of recently-deployed women veterans and were associated with self-reported mental health symptoms and traumatic events, including prior sexual assault. Screening and evaluation for bothersome urinary symptoms and mental health problems in women veterans presenting for primary and urologic care after deployment appears warranted.
Written by:
Bradley CS, Nygaard IE, Torner JC, Hillis SL, Johnson S, Sadler AG. Are you the author?
Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) Center, Iowa City VA Health Care System, Iowa City, IA; Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA; Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA.
Reference: J Urol. 2013 Dec 5. pii: S0022-5347(13)06072-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.11.100
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24316095
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