Purpose: We aimed to estimate the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in Korea, to assess the variation in prevalence by sex and age, and to measure the impact of OAB on quality of life.
Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted between April and June 2010 with a question¬naire regarding the prevalence of OAB, demographics, and the impact of OAB on quality of life. A geographically stratified ran¬dom sample of men and women aged ≥30 years was selected.
Results: The overall prevalence of OAB was 22.9% (male, 19%; female, 26.8%). Of a total of 458 participants with OAB, 37.6% and 19.9% reported moderate or severe impact on their daily life and sexual life (5.6% and 3.5%, respectively, in participants with¬out OAB). Anxiety and depression were reported by 22.7% and 39.3% of participants with OAB, respectively (9.7% and 22.8%, respectively, in participants without OAB). Only 19.7% of participants with OAB had consulted a doctor for their voiding symp¬toms, but 50.7% of respondents with OAB were willing to visit a hospital for the management of their OAB symptoms.
Conclusions: This study confirmed that OAB symptoms are highly prevalent in Korea, and many sufferers appear to have active¬ly sought medical help. OAB has severe effects on daily and sexual life as well as psychological health.