Effect of Long-term Exercise on Voiding Functions in Obese Elderly Women.

PURPOSE: An overactive bladder (OAB) may be defined as urgency that is a sudden, compelling, difficult to defer desire to pass urine that is usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia and possibly by incontinence. Obesity and old age are two factors in various causes of OAB. Several epidemiologic studies have identified positive associations among obesity, old age, urinary incontinence, and OAB. However, although exercise has been known to improve obesity and reduce incontinent urine loss, little research has been done in elderly women. Therefore, we investigated the effects of exercise on obesity-related metabolic factors, blood lipid factors, and OAB symptoms in elderly Korean women.
METHODS: Twenty-one women aged between 69 and 72 years were recruited from the Seoul senior towers in Korea. All subjects worked out on a motorized treadmill and stationary cycle for 40 minutes, respectively, and performed resistance exercise for 30 minutes once a day for 52 weeks. Body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids, OAB symptom score, and King's health questionnaire were investigated and analyzed.
RESULTS: Before performing physical exercise, all subjects showed increased OAB symptoms in association with enhanced body mass index (BMI), percentage fat, and blood lipid profiles. However, physical exercise for 52 weeks suppressed BMI, percentage fat, and blood lipid profiles and thus improved OAB symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that long-term physical exercise can be a valuable tool for remarkable improvement of OAB.

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterized by urgency, usually with frequency and nocturia [1]. OAB is defined by the International Continence Society as urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with increased daytime frequency and nocturia [2]. In general, frequency is usually defined as urinating more than 8 times per day.

Millions of women throughout the world are afflicted with OAB, and interest in these symptoms has been growing in recent years as a consequence of the increased awareness of the human and social implications of OAB for the individual sufferer. OAB represents a substantial problem in clinical practice, with an overall prevalence of 16% to 17% of adults. OAB is a symptom complex affecting both women and men. It is more common in the elderly, but young people have OAB symptoms as well [3]. Milsom et al. [3] reported that the prevalence of OAB increased from 3% in men aged 40 to 44 years to 42% in men older than 75 years. The cost of managing OAB in the United States has been estimated to be as high as 6 billion dollars [4].

The cause of OAB is widely recognized to be multifactorial, involving such areas as aging, urinary tract infection, urethral syndrome, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Of these factors, obesity is an increasing health problem worldwide, and several epidemiologic studies have identified a positive association between obesity and an increased incidence of urinary incontinence and OAB [5-7]. Obesity occurs commonly in women with OAB and it has been proposed as a likely pathogenic process inviting neuronal, smooth muscle, and urethral dysfunction [8]. In women, the prevalence of OAB symptoms has been shown to be positively related to increasing body mass index (BMI) as shown by several authors [9-12]. Generally, BMI in ranges of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2, which correspond to overweight and obesity, respectively, has been shown to be an independent risk factor for OAB in women [13]. In the National Overactive Bladder Evaluation (NOBLE) Study, wet OAB was more prevalent in women with a BMI of 30 or more than in those with a BMI under 24 kg/m2 [14].

Physical exercise including aerobic and resistance exercise is a common strategy in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Regular exercise is known to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes through numerous mechanisms. It reliably and robustly improves insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular fitness [15,16], reduces blood pressure [17], improves dyslipidemia [18], and improves both individual and combined factors of the metabolic syndrome score [18,19]. In addition, regular exercise has a modest effect on reducing body weight with substantially greater effects on improving body composition. Conversely, it is becoming increasingly clear that a continued sedentary lifestyle in overweight or obese individuals, particularly those who already have some metabolic abnormalities, comes at a high metabolic cost, as numerous health-related variables are worsened over relatively short time periods [20, 21].

In preventive treatments of OAB or urinary incontinence, pelvic muscle or aerobic exercise has been well-known to increase muscle strength and reduce incontinent urine loss. Furthermore, regular physical exercise is based on the idea of strengthening the muscles involved in keeping the urethra closed and the pelvic structures supported, particularly during periods of increased intra-abdominal pressure [22]. Although exercises are noninvasive, they may not be effective if there are variations in technique and compliance [23]. Therapeutic intervention, including pharmacologic agents, has been attempted to cure OAB. However, medication therapy of OAB causes side effects, such as dry mouth, constipation, headache, and intestinal motility disorder.

Although the functional roles of physical exercise in obesity have been dramatically revealed, the effects of physical exercise in the relations of obesity and OAB in elderly women are still unknown. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effects of long-term exercise on obesity-related factors (BMI, blood lipid profiles) and OAB symptoms in elderly women. For this study, body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids, the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and scores on the King's health questionnaire (KHQ) were investigated and analyzed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects

The thirty-five women aged between 69 and 72 years were recruited from the Seoul senior towers in Korea. The subjects were recruited on a voluntary basis from the Song-Do Hospital. The exclusion criteria were past or present neurological, hypertensive, or cardiopulmonary diseases. Persons (n=14) absent from 52 weeks of exercise five times or more per week were also excluded. Before the study, the principal investigator explained all the procedures to the subjects in detail. All subjects read and signed an informed consent form approved by the Ethical Committee of Hanseo University Institute and the Korean Academy of Medical Sciences before participation. Complete subject characteristics are listed in Table 1.

Table 1

Physical characteristics of the subjects (n=21)

SEM, standard error of the mean.

Experimental Design

On the first day, participants were required to read and sign an informed consent form and to complete a self-assessed questionnaire designed to identify subjects with OAB (OABSS and KHQ). One day later, the subjects returned to the laboratory to complete baseline measurements, including body composition tests and blood lipid tests. The subjects in the exercise group performed the exercises on a motorized treadmill and stationary cycle for 40 minutes, respectively, and performed resistance exercise for 20 minutes once per day for 52 weeks. The follow-up testing included the same measures as in the baseline testing.

Assessment of OAB

All subjects completed OAB questionnaires to measure self-report (OABSS and KHQ) of function. The OABSS consists of a total of 4 questions regarding daytime frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urgency incontinence. The overall score is the sum of the 4 scores, and the diagnostic criteria for OAB are a total OABSS of 3 or more with an urgency score for Question 3 of 2 or more. In the event that the OABSS is used as the standard for the assessment of severity regarding OAB, it is recommended that a total score of 5 or less be defined as mild, a score of 6 to 11 as moderate, and a score of 12 or more as severe. In this study, the OABSS was used as a reference [24]. Reliability of the OABSS was shown (Cronbach alpha=0.523).

The KHQ contains two single-item questions that address general health perceptions and the impact of incontinence. It also contains the following seven multiple item domains: role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations, personal relationships, emotions, sleep and energy, and severity (coping) measures. The minimum possible KHQ score is 0 (best health) and the maximum possible score is 100 (worst health) [25]. Reliability of the KHQ was shown (Cronbach alpha=0.911).

Assessments of BMI and Body Composition

The degree of obesity for all subjects was assessed by the BMI and body composition testing. For BMI, the subjects' heights were measured by using a wall-mounted ruler at the time of entry into the study. Body weights were measured by using a digital scale before breakfast and after the subjects had voided. BMI was calculated as weight in kilograms, divided by the height in meters squared. To measure the weight, fat mass, and muscle mass of the subjects, we used the bioelectrical impedance analysis method (InBody 320 Body Composition Analyzer; BioSpace, Seoul, Korea), and measured height by using a BMS 330 anthropometer (BioSpace) [26]. BMI and body composition were measured at baseline and during the last week of study.

Blood Sampling

The blood lipid profiles for all subjects were assessed by blood sampling. Blood samples were obtained in the morning after a 12-hour overnight fast. Venous blood samples were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-coated tubes and were centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 15 minutes at 4℃. Plasma glucose was measured by a glucose oxidase method, and total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels were measured by enzymatic procedures by use of an autoanalyzer (ABX Micros 60, Horiba, Irvine, CA, USA).

Exercise Protocol

The subjects in the exercise group took part in supervised progressive exercise training for 52 weeks (Table 2). During this study, all subjects agreed not to change their daily activity patterns, outside of their participation in this study. The subjects also agreed not to change their dietary habits throughout the study periods.

Table 2

Exercise protocol

VO2, volume oxygen; reps, repetitions.

a)Exercise intensity for resistance training was 60% of 10 repeat maximum (RM) of maximal voluntary contraction test.

Exercise sessions were observed from morning to afternoon and lasted approximately 70 to 80 minutes. All subjects began the exercise session with a warm-up including gentle lower and upper extremity stretching for 10 minutes during the period of this study. This type of stretching for the elderly was meant to protect the whole body joints without hyper-flexion or hyper-extension before the exercise session. This was followed by the aerobic portion of their training, which involved stationary cycling and treadmill exercise for 40 minutes, respectively, at an intensity of approximately 50% of VO2 peak (peak oxygen volume) during this study. Resistance training was carried out by using weight-training machines. The exercise intensity for resistance training was 60% of the 10 repeat maximum of maximal voluntary contraction test. The order of resistance training was leg press, shoulder press, leg extension, leg curl, arm curl, back extension, abdominal flexion, and then rotary torso. Resistance training consisted of two sets. Also, the repetition of training initially consisted of 10 repetitions of each exercise.

Data Analysis

Data were analyzed by using IBM SPSS ver. 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Data are expressed as means±standard errors of the mean (SEMs). For comparisons between the pre and post values, Wilcoxon's matched pairs test, a nonparametric statistical hypothesis test, was performed. Delta differences (Δ%) in values between the pre and post measurements were calculated by using the following formula: Δ%=(post-pre)/pre×100. To analyze correlations among OABSS, KHQ, and body composition, Pearson test was used. The P-values less than 0.05 were taken as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Effects of Long-term Exercise on OABSS in the Elderly Women

The analysis of OABSS, including frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence, was performed in all subjects before and after regular physical exercise for 52 weeks, and the average values (mean±SEM) are shown in Table 3. First, the pretest results showed a moderate OAB score in all subjects. After 52 weeks, the scores for frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urinary incontinence were significantly decreased by physical exercise; in addition, the total score was significantly lowered. These results demonstrated that physical exercise for 52 weeks significantly decreased the OABSS in elderly women. In particular, among the four items, frequency and nocturia were the most changed in elderly women.

Table 3

Changes in OAB symptoms as assessed by the OABSS with exercise for 52 weeks

Values are presented as mean±standard error of the mean.

OAB, overactive bladder; OABSS, overactive bladder symptom score.

Effects of Long-term Exercise on the KHQ in the Elderly Women

The KHQ analysis, including general health, impact on life, role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations, relationships, emotions, sleep/energy, and incontinence, was performed in all subjects before and after regular physical exercise for 52 weeks. The average values (mean±SEM) are shown in Table 4. First, the pretest results on the KHQ showed a "low-degree health condition" and a "moderate OAB" score in all of the subjects. After 52 weeks, the scores for general health, role limitations, physical limitations, relationships, emotions, sleep/energy, and incontinence were significantly decreased by physical exercise, whereas the impact on life and social limitation score were nonsignificant. These results showed that physical exercise for 52 weeks significantly improved general health, impact on life, role limitations, physical limitation, emotions, sleep/energy, and incontinence in elderly women. However, for the "impact on life" and "social limitation" items, physical exercise exerted no significant improvement.

Table 4

Changes in OAB symptoms as assessed by the KHQ with exercise for 52 weeks

Values are presented as mean±standard error of the mean.

OAB, overactive bladder; KHQ, King's health questionnaire.

Effects of Long-term Exercise on Body Composition and Blood Pressure in the Elderly Women

The body composition items including percentage fat, lean body mass (LBM), and BMI and the blood pressure items including systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured in all subjects before and after physical exercise for 52 weeks. The average values (mean±SEM) are shown in Table 5. The pretest results of body composition showed the degree of obesity in the subjects. After 52 weeks, the analysis showed that average body weight, percentage fat, BMI, and SBP were significantly decreased by physical exercise. In addition, long-term physical exercise significantly enhanced LBM in the elderly women, whereas physical exercise exerted no significant effect on DBP. These results showed that physical exercise for 52 weeks significantly decreased percentage fat, BMI, and SBP in elderly women. Moreover, physical exercise significantly enhanced LBM in elderly women.

Table 5

Changes in body composition and blood pressure with exercise for 52 weeks

Values are presented as mean±standard error of the mean.

Effects of Long-term Exercise on Blood Lipids in the Elderly Women

The blood lipid variables including TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG were measured in all subjects before and after physical exercise for 52 weeks. The average values (mean±SEM) are shown in Table 6. After 52 weeks, the analysis showed that average TC, LDL-C, and TG were significantly decreased by physical exercise. In addition, physical exercise significantly enhanced HDL-C in the elderly women. These results showed that long-term physical exercise significantly decreased TC, LDL-C, and TG in elderly women. Moreover, physical exercise significantly enhanced HDL-C in elderly women.

Table 6

Changes in blood lipid factors with exercise for 52 weeks

Values are presented as mean±standard error of the mean.

HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Correlations of the OABSS, KHQ, and Body Composition in the Elderly Women

The relationships concerning Δ% in body composition, OABSS, and KHQ are shown Table 7. Correlation analysis was performed to ascertain the relationships among the observed values. Most values except BMI and percentage fat did not show a significant correlation with OABSS or the general health and emotion variables of the KHQ. On the other hand, there was a strong positive correlation between percentage fat and BMI and a weak negative correlation between percentage fat and OABSS. We also found a weak negative correlation between BMI and OABSS. Finally, there was a positive correlation between general health and emotion on the KHQ.

Table 7

Relationships among variables of body composition, OABSS, and KHQ

OABSS, overactive bladder symptom score; KHQ, King's health questionnaire; LBM, lean body mass; BMI, body mass index; GH, general health; IL, impact on life; RL, role limitations; PL, physical limitations; SL, social limitations; Re, relationships; Em, emotions; SE, sleep/energy; IC, incontinence.

a)Sum of 4 items in the OABSS.

DISCUSSION

OAB comprises urinary urgency, with or without urgency incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia in the absence of other pathologies. The incidence of OAB is higher in the elderly. Current population forecasts predict a worldwide increase in the proportion of people aged over 65 years, with the greatest rise being in those aged over 80. With this in mind, it is reasonable to expect that the health care burden associated with OAB and lower urinary tract symptoms will also increase. In addition to this, the cause of OAB is widely recognized to be multifactorial and to include factors such as urinary tract infection, urethral syndrome, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, and obesity.

Concerning obesity, BMI in the range of 25 to 29.9 kg/m2 and ≥30 kg/m2, which corresponds to overweight and obesity, respectively, has been shown to be an independent risk factor for OAB in women [8]. The present study showed the higher BMI of elderly women. This finding has been explained secondary to the changes in appetite, food intake, energy expenditure, and body composition that normally occur with aging, with an increase in fat mass and a decrease in muscle mass [27]. The results demonstrated that higher percentage fat in body composition was related to increasing age, whereas LBM decreased with aging in elderly women. These results suggest that aging caused increased body fat (%) and BMI, whereas it decreased LBM, thus increasing obesity. In addition, the increase of BMI and percentage fat with aging caused elevated blood lipid factors such as TC, LDL-C, and TG in elderly women.

The exact mechanisms explaining the link between obesity and OAB are not well known, however. One hypothesis suggests that excess body weight increases intra-abdominal pressure, which in turn increases bladder pressure and intravesical pressure, thus leading to overactivity [28,29]. The previous study showed that a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 was associated with a higher incidence of patient-reported urinary mixed leakage and pad use. Moreover, Hannestad et al. [13] reported a positive correlation between BMI and incontinence, and this association has been demonstrated for all subtypes of incontinence, particularly severe combined urge urinary and stress incontinence, and caused nocturia. Grady et al. [30] demonstrated that increasing BMI was a significant predictor of combined urge and stress incontinence. Because a higher BMI was age related, one may conclude that the above observation could be related to lower activity levels in older women. Another possibility is that the increased rate of urge incontinence in older women makes stress incontinence symptoms harder to isolate, which thus makes it more difficult to distinguish pure urge leakage from pure stress leakage or mixed leakage.

In this study, the OAB determination was based on both the OABSS and the KHQ, which is a validated questionnaire. The OABSS consists of a total of 4 questions regarding daytime frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urgency incontinence, and it is recommended that a total score of 5 or less be defined as mild, a score of 6 to 11 as moderate, and a score of 12 or more as severe. The KHQ contains two single-item questions that address general health perceptions and the impact of incontinence. It also contains the following seven multi-item domains: role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations, personal relationships, emotions, sleep/energy, and severity (coping) measures. The present results showed that higher scores on the OABSS and KHQ were related to increasing age. These results indicated that aging caused an increase in 4 items on the OABSS and enhanced 11 items of the KHQ, which thus signifies a "moderate" degree of OAB.

Physical exercise has a modest effect on reducing body weight and blood lipid factors with substantially greater effects on improving body composition. In addition, regular exercise is known to increase muscle strength, including the rectus abdominis muscle, gluteus maximus, and pelvic muscle, and to reduce OAB symptoms. Above all, the effects of physical exercise induce weight loss. For this reason, regular physical exercise induced improvement in LUTS. The present results showed that 52 weeks of physical exercise significantly reduced BMI, percentage fat, and blood lipid factors (TC, LDL-C, TG) compared with before performing physical exercise. In addition, 52 weeks of physical exercise significantly enhanced LBM and HDL-C compared with before performing physical exercise. Our findings support previous reports indicating that physical exercise improves the imbalance in body composition and blood lipid factors that occurs with aging [31,32]. Generally, OAB patients showed a nonreflexive inhibition of involuntary detrusor contraction during the day and night. However, physical exercise may enable physical control of involuntary loss and a training of the will and the mind [33].

The present study showed that physical exercise during 52 weeks significantly decreased the OABSS in elderly women. Especially, the frequency and nocturia items of the OABSS were most suppressed in elderly women. In addition, 52 weeks of physical exercise improved the KHQ score compared with before performing physical exercise. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that the beneficial effect of 52 weeks of physical exercise on OAB might change BMI and body composition. Moreover, the strengthening of muscles and tissues by physical exercise may relieve the symptoms of OAB.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of 52 weeks of physical exercise on the aging-induced alteration of OAB symptoms, BMI, body composition, and blood lipid factors. All subjects before performing physical exercise showed an increase in OAB symptoms following enhanced BMI, percentage fat, and blood lipid factors (TC, LDL-C, TG). However, long-term physical exercise suppressed BMI, percentage fat, and blood lipid factors (TC, LDL-C, TG), thus improving OAB symptoms. We suggest that physical exercise can be a valuable tool for remarkable improvement of OAB.