WASHINGTON, D.C.—Nocturia is the most common overactive bladder (OAB) symptom affecting health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), investigators reported at the American Urological Association 2011 annual meeting.
Laura Chang Kit, MD, of Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn., and her colleagues conducted what they believe is the first study evaluating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with POTS, an autonomic disorder predominantly affecting females 15- 50 years old. POTS is characterized by an excessive heart rate increment on standing in the presence of characteristic symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion or sympathetic activation on standing. Many POTS patients complain of LUTS, but little research has been conducted in this area.
In this pilot study, subjects evaluated for POTS completed a validated, standardized questionnaire for OAB at presentation. Symptom scores and subscale analyses were conducted and HRQL scores ranked on 0-100 scale, with higher scores reflecting superior HRQL. Among 29 women diagnosed with POTS, 19 completed the OAB questionnaire (65.5% response rate). The average age of the women was 33.5 years. The researchers found that the mean symptom severity score was 26.0. Thirteen of 19 patients (68.4%) would be diagnosed with probable OAB. Nocturia was found to be the most bothersome symptom, followed by frequency and urgency.
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