Costs of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder in the United States: a comparative study.

Objectives: To update the cost of urinary incontinence (UI) for year 2000 and compare it with the cost of overactive bladder (OAB).

Methods: Using the cost-of-illness framework, disease epidemiologic data were combined with treatment rates, consequence probabilities, and average cost estimates. All costs reflect the costs during 2000.

Estimated economic costs of overactive bladder in the United States.

Objectives: To estimate the economic costs of overactive bladder (OAB), including community and nursing home residents, and to compare the costs in male versus female and older versus younger populations.

Methods: The National Overactive Bladder Evaluation Program included a representative telephone survey of 5204 community-dwelling adults 18 years and older in the United States and a follow-up postal survey of all individuals with OAB identified and age and sex-matched controls. The postal survey asked respondents about bladder symptoms, self-care use, treatment use, work loss, and OAB-related health consequences.