Emerging evidence suggests that inflammation might contribute to the development of overactive bladder (OAB), with elevated inflammatory markers in patients with OAB compared to those without. These markers, such as C-reactive protein and nerve growth factor, can lead to nerve hyperexcitability, causing OAB symptoms. Despite these findings, the relationship between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII)—a key clinical tool for assessing local immune responses and systemic inflammation—and OAB remains unclear.

Researchers of the cross-sectional study included 31,881 participants and revealed a significant association between higher SII levels and an increased risk of OAB. Age-standardized prevalence rates showed a positive correlation between higher SII quartiles and OAB incidence. Logistic regression models confirmed that increasing SII was associated with elevated odds of OAB, even after adjusting for demographic factors and kidney function. Subgroup analyses further demonstrated that the relationship between SII and OAB was consistent across various demographic groups. These findings suggest that SII could serve as a useful biomarker for diagnosing and assessing OAB, although further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results and explore the potential mechanisms linking inflammation to OAB.

Reference: Wei B, Zhao Y, Lin P, et al. The association between overactive bladder and systemic immunity-inflammation index: a cross-sectional study of NHANES 2005 to 2018. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):12579. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63448-3.