[Epidemiology and pathophysiology of overactive bladder].

According to the new ICS classification overactive bladder (OAB) is defined as a complex of symptoms such as frequency, nocturia, and urgency with or without urge urinary incontinence. Urgency is the key symptom that leads to the diagnosis. The prevalence of overactive bladder in the general adult population is approximately 17%. This number increases with advancing age. Incontinence events are reported in approximately one-third of these patients. Symptoms of overactive bladder have a negative impact on quality of life in every second patient and on sexuality in every fourth patient. In addition to neurogenic and myogenic factors, nowadays urothelial dysfunction is being discussed in the etiology of OAB.