Prospective and randomized comparison of electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve versus oxybutynin versus their combination for treatment of women with overactive bladder syndrome

Abstract

Objective: To verify whether the combination of transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation (TENS) with oxybutynin in the treatment of women with overactive bladder (OAB) would be more effective than isolated treatments.

Methods: We randomized 75 women with OAB, in three groups: GI--30 min TENS, twice a week; GII--daily slow release 10 mg oxybutynin; and GIII--TENS + oxybutynin (multimodal); all for 12 weeks. Patients were evaluated with validated questionnaires International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), International Consultation on Incontinence-OAB (ICIQ-OAB), Symptom bother, and 3-day Voiding diary at weeks 0, 12, and 24.

Results: The groups were similar before treatment. After treatment, all groups significantly improved in OAB symptoms and quality of life (QoL). At week 12, ICIQ-OAB scores were 5.9, 4.6, and 2.9, in groups I, II, and III, respectively, p = 0.01. At week 24, GI and GIII kept the scores of the end of treatment (week 12), while GII increased ICIQ-OAB from 4.6 to 9.2, p = 0.0001, ICIQ-SF from 9.8 to 13.3, p = 0.0006, and Symptom bother score from 3.4 to 7.0, p = 0.0001.

Conclusions: The multimodal treatment was more effective and TENS alone or in association presented longer lasting results for improvement of clinical symptoms of OAB and QoL.