Overactive bladder and hyperlipidemia: is there an association?

Objectives: : To determine the relationship between overactive bladder (OAB), with or without urinary incontinence (UI), and hyperlipidemia.

Methods: : A random sample of 8077 primary care patients were recruited for the General Longitudinal Overactive Bladder Evaluation. This was a prospective population-based survey to determine severity and occurrence of urgency, frequency, nocturia, and UI. A composite score of 5+ (range, 0-12) was considered to be a case status for OAB, and 2+ (range, 0-6) for UI. Data on hyperlipidemia were pulled out from the electronic medical records of all corresponding patients. Baseline covariates included age, education, body mass index, marital status, and other comorbidities. Logistic regression models were fit predicting OAB status (with or without UI) with prevalent hyperlipidemia as the main predictor.

Results: : A total of 3599 (45%) women older than 40 years completed the survey, with a mean (SD) age of 59 (13) years, median parity of 2 (range, 1-3), 66% being overweight or obese, 90% with at least high school education, and 66% married. The prevalence of OAB and UI was 33% and 35%, respectively. Prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 22%. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) of OAB for those with versus without hyperlipidemia was significant: OR = 1.20 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.42; P = 0.029). After adjustment, this association was no longer significant: OR = 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.81-1.16; P = 0.726). Among women with OAB and UI, there was no association with hyperlipidemia before and after adjustment (P = 0.5).

Conclusions: : Although on the surface there seems to be an association between OAB and hyperlipidemia, this association is primarily accounted for by other confounders.