In a prospective randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of combined behavioral therapy (BT), drug therapy, and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in 70 female patients diagnosed with wet-type overactive bladder (OAB) who did not respond to drug therapy alone, distinct groups received varied treatments. The control group underwent BT and a combination of anticholinergic and beta3-agonist drugs for 12 weeks. The active therapy group received the same drug treatment alongside BT and PFMT. Post-treatment evaluations focused on changes in OAB symptoms, ICIQ-SF scores, and occurrences of frequency and nocturia.

Results revealed that while both groups saw improvements, the active therapy group experienced significantly greater reductions in OAB scores and nocturia occurrences compared with the control group. Furthermore, a higher percentage of patients in the active therapy group reported satisfaction with their condition post-treatment and achieved a state of being dry. These findings suggest that a combination of drug therapy, BT, and PFMT can significantly enhance outcomes for patients with OAB, potentially reducing the need for more invasive treatments.

Reference: Alkis O, Ozlu A, Kartal IG, Sevim M, Baser A, Aras B. How effectively do we apply first-line treatment in overactive bladder? Int Urogynecol J. 2022;33(8):2299-2306. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05279-2.