Combining behavioral and drug therapies improves overactive bladder symptoms in men

This study investigated the effects of combining behavioral and drug therapies in male patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Researchers suggested that this combined therapy improves OAB symptoms.

OAB is a common condition. It can include frequent and urgent urination, incontinence (urine leak) and/or waking up at night to urinate. These symptoms affect the quality of life of the patients. OAB is most often treated with drugs or behavioral therapies (pelvic muscle and bladder training and diet change). These therapies are known to reduce symptoms. However, most patients are not cured with either therapy alone.

Prior studies suggested that the combination of drugs and behavioral therapy improves OAB outcomes in women. However, it is not known whether men with OAB experience the same effectiveness with combined drug and behavioral therapy.

This study included information about 204 men with OAB. These patients were assigned to receive either drug therapy alone, behavioral therapy alone or drug and behavioral therapy in combination for 6 weeks. Each patient kept 7-days bladder diaries before and after therapy. After 6 weeks, all patients began treatment with combined therapy for another 6 weeks.

A total of 183 patients completed the treatment. Frequency decreased in all 3 groups of treatment. The number of voids per day decreased by 24.7% in the behavioral therapy alone group, by 12.7% in the drug therapy alone group and by 30.4% in the combined therapy group. 

At 12 weeks follow-up, all the groups had received combined therapy. The greatest improvement in symptoms was seen in those who received combined therapy initially (by 32.2%). This was compared to 31.6% in those who had initially behavioral therapy alone and 27.1% in those who had initially drug therapy alone.

This study concluded that combining behavioral and drug therapies improve OAB outcomes in men.

This study had a short follow-up period. Longer-term studies are needed.