Prevalence of Overactive Bladder in Brazilian Women

The study aims to verify the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in brazilian women in a mean city and analyze the predictors for its occurrence. It was used domiciliary inquiry with individual interview for the social, demographic and clinical data. The sample was estimated based on the population data including women fifteen years old and above. The statistical regression stepwise test, Nagelkerke test, Hosmer-Lemeshow test and probability reason were used for the analysis. The authors visited 334 women in 368 houses and 33 women had presented the OAB symptoms in a prevalence of 10,1%. The symptoms considered was diurnal urinary frequency, nocturnal frequency, urinary urge incontinence and urgency in this important sequence and the NagelKerk test shows that this characteristics explains 72% of the occurrence ranging of OAB and that the contribution of any variables was significant (p<0,05). Diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, neurological problems, urinary tract infections, pain, perimenopausal symptoms, high age, constipation, pelvic surgery, many deliveries, few sexual relationships, few libido, alcoholic beverages, pepper and caffeine were statistical related with the OAB. The authors concluded that the prevalence of OAB in the sample revealed the same that some international studies but below that another brazilian studies in similar cities.
Key words: prevalence, women, overactive bladder