The overactive bladder and quality of life.

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects 16.6% of the U.S. population, or 33 million adults, in some form. Despite the prevalence of OAB, almost 60% of those affected seek no medical assistance for the condition either because of embarrassment or the misconception that it represents an inevitable function of aging. A recent surge of interest on the subject has uncovered the dramatic effect that OAB can have on social interactions, sleep, depression, sexual health, and overall health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The introduction of validated, condition-specific QOL questionnaires has enhanced our ability to measure these subjective dimensions of OAB, and to assess their response to therapeutic interventions.