[1] Thus, individuals with neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and myelodysplasia may have neurogenic OAB but they cannot be classified as having characteristic OAB. OAB symptoms are often associated with detrusor overactivity (DO)[2] but can also be associated with other forms of urethrovesical dysfunction. The symptoms of OAB are sellekchem storage-phase symptoms.[1] The terminology used is still confusing at times and therefore various terms have been redefined by the ICS. ��Urgency,�� the major symptom of OAB, is characterized by a sudden compelling desire to pass urine, which is difficult to defer. Incontinence associated with urgency is referred to as ��urge urinary incontinence (UUI).

�� Eight or more episodes of micturition per day is defined as ��urinary frequency,�� while ��nocturia�� is the complaint that the individual has to awaken from sleep at night to void.[3] The prevalence of OAB ranges from 11% to 17% in the general population. The National Overactive Bladder Evaluation Study reported a prevalence for OAB of 16% in men and 17% in women, thus affecting approximately 33.3 million adults.[4] A European study, in an evaluation of 16000 patients, demonstrated a similar prevalence of 17% in individuals older than 40 years of age.[5] Another study reported a prevalence of 11.8% in both men and women, with an increase in prevalence of OAB with age.[6] OAB is not a fatal disease but it affects the quality of life (QoL) of the patient. It has major negative impact on the psychological, social, domestic, sexual, and physical domains of the patient.

From a psychological viewpoint, individuals suffering from OAB may have a loss of self-esteem, feel guilty, fear being a burden to their family and friends, and fear the odor of urine. These individuals may decrease their social interactions. Up to 65% of men and 67% of women who suffer from OAB noted that their symptoms had an effect on daily living.[7] OAB is often associated with comorbidities such as increased risk of falls and fractures, increased urinary tract and AV-951 skin infections, sleep disturbances, depression, and decreased sexual health.[8] The economic burden of OAB is huge. In USA alone, OAB attributed a cost of $12.02 billion in the year 2000 only.[9] The exact cause(s) of idiopathic OAB is/are not well defined. Many factors such as damaged neurons in the spinal cord, decreased suprapontine inhibition, increased lower urinary tract afferent input, and enhancement of excitatory neurotransmission in the micturition reflex pathways have been implicated.[10] The myogenic theory implicates the micro-motions developed in the detrusor muscle due to partial denervation of bladder as the cause of OAB.