Efficacy and Tolerability of Anticholinergics in Korean Children with Overactive Bladder: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Abstract

We investigated the efficacy and tolerability of various anticholinergics in Korean children with non-neurogenic overactive bladder (OAB). A total of 326 children (males: females = 157: 169) aged under 18 yr (mean age 7.3 +/- 2.6 yr) who were diagnosed with OAB from 2008 to 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The mean duration of OAB symptoms before anticholinergic treatment was 16.9 +/- 19.0 months. The mean duration of medication was 5.6 +/- 7.3 months. Urgency urinary incontinence episodes per week decreased from 1.9 +/- 3.1 to 0.4 +/- 1.5 times (P < 0.001). The median voiding frequency during daytime was decreased from 9.2 +/- 5.4 to 6.3 +/- 4.2 times (P < 0.001). According to 3-day voiding diaries, the maximum and average bladder capacity were increased from 145.5 +/- 66.9 to 196.8 +/- 80.3 mL and from 80.8 +/- 39.6 to 121.8 +/- 56.5 mL, respectively (P < 0.001). On uroflowmetry, maximum flow rate was increased from 17.6 +/- 8.4 to 20.5 +/- 8.2 mL/sec (P < 0.001). Adverse effects were reported in 14 (4.3%) children and six children (1.8%) discontinued medication due to adverse effects. Our results indicate that anticholinergics are effective to improve OAB symptoms and tolerability was acceptable without severe complications in children.