Overactive bladder (OAB) is often treated with antimuscarinics or beta-3 agonists, with solifenacin and mirabegron being commonly prescribed. While both medications help manage symptoms like urinary urgency and frequency, mirabegron tends to have fewer bothersome side effects, such as dry mouth, compared to antimuscarinics. Persistence in medication usage is critical for OAB management, as patients who stick to their prescribed treatments show greater symptom improvement. In this study, mirabegron was associated with higher persistence rates and a lower likelihood of switching medications.
The study also revealed that older women and those with larger voided volumes (≥250 ml) were more likely to need added medications. These findings suggest that higher doses or combination therapies might be more effective for these patients. Additionally, women with mild OAB symptoms and low parity were more likely to improve without medication. Overall, mirabegron appears to be a favorable option for increasing persistence and reducing medication switching, particularly in women over 75 or with higher voided volumes.
Reference: Hsiao SM. Predictors of non-persistence in women with overactive bladder syndrome. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):7499. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58036-4.