Antimuscarinic treatment in overactive bladder: special considerations in elderly patients

Risk of delirium associated with antimuscarinics in older adults: a case-time-control study

Background

Older adults are at an increased risk of delirium because of age, polypharmacy, multiple comorbidities and acute illness. Antimuscarinics are the backbone of the pharmacological management of overactive bladder. However, the safety profiles of antimuscarinics vary because of their dissimilarities to muscarinic receptor‐subtype affinities and are associated with differential central anticholinergic adverse effects.

Objective

This study aimed to examine delirium risk in new users of oxybutynin and solifenacin in older adults (≥ 65 years). In the secondary analyses, we examined the risk of delirium by type and dose of antimuscarinic.

Method

We applied a case‐time‐control design to investigate delirium risk in older adults who started taking oxybutynin and solifenacin. We used a nationwide inpatient hospital data (2005–2016), National Minimum Data Set, maintained by the Ministry of Health, New Zealand (NZ), to identify older adults with a new‐onset diagnosis of delirium. Eligible patients were older adults aged 65 at entry into the cohort on 1/1/2006. We used dispensing claims data to determine antimuscarinic treatment exposure. The antimuscarinic included in the study were new users of oxybutynin and solifenacin. These two antimuscarinics are subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Management Agency and are the most frequently used antimuscarinic in NZ. A conditional logistic regression model was used to compute matched odds ratios (MORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In the case‐time‐control design, we made separate analyses to evaluate the dose–response risk of delirium.

Results

We identified 4818 individuals (mean age 82.14) from 2005 to 2015 with incident delirium and were exposed to at least one of the antimuscarinic of interest. The case‐time‐control matched odds ratio (MOR) for delirium with oxybutynin was (2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07–3.96). Solifenacin was not associated with delirium (0.89 95%CI 0.64–1.23). In the sensitivity analyses, the case‐time‐control MOR for delirium using a shorter risk period (0–3 days) did not change the results. The dose–response risk of delirium was significant for oxybutynin (0.05, 95%CI 0.02–0.08) but not for solifenacin (−0.01, 95%CI −0.03 to 0.00). In addition, in the subgroup analyses, a statistically significant association of delirium was found for oxybutynin but not for solifenacin in the non‐dementia cohort (2.11,95% CI 1.08–4.13) and the dementia cohort (1.25, 95%CI 0.05–26.9).

Conclusion

The study found that oxybutynin but not solifenacin is associated with a risk of new‐onset delirium in older adults. The higher blockade of M1 and M2 receptors by oxybutynin is likely to contribute to delirium than solifenacin, which is highly selective for the M3 receptor subtype. Therefore, the treatment choice with an M3 selective agent must be given due consideration, particularly in those with pre‐existing cognitive impairment.

Diverse cognitive impairment after spinal cord injury is associated with orthostatic hypotension symptom burden

This study: 1) compared cognitive functioning between individuals with chronic (>1 year) spinal cord injury (SCI) and non-injured controls and, 2) assessed associations between symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia and orthostatic hypotension with cognitive functioning in SCI participants with a history of unstable blood pressure (BP). Thirty-two individuals with SCI (C4-L2, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale A-D) and thirty age, sex-matched non-injured controls participated in this study. Participants completed a motor-free neuropsychological test battery assessing 1) memory, 2) attention/concentration/psychomotor speed and, 3) executive function. Nineteen participants with SCI who had injuries ≥T6 and a history of unstable BP also completed the Autonomic Dysfunction Following Spinal Cord Injury (ADFSCI) questionnaire. Cognitive function was significantly lower in people with SCI across measures of memory and executive function compared to non-injured controls. Significant, moderate-to-large associations were observed between cumulative (frequency x severity) orthostatic hypotension and total BP instability symptoms scores, with measures of attention/concentration/psychomotor speed and executive function. These data demonstrate a 10 - 65% reduced performance across specific realms of cognitive functioning in individuals with SCI relative to non-injured controls. Furthermore, cumulative subjective scores for symptoms of unstable BP were associated with diverse cognitive deficits. These findings, in individuals without co-occurring traumatic brain injury, imply cardiovascular dysregulation plays a role in cognitive deficits observed in this population.

Interventions and cognitive functioning in adults with traumatic spinal cord injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

This research synthesized scientific evidence on the impact of interventions for adults with traumatic spinal cord injury on cognition, to understand if current intervention approaches are appropriate in light of the risk of post-injury cognitive impairments.

METHOD

Medline, Central, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched for intervention in persons with SCI assessing cognition pre- and post-intervention. Study quality was completed using the National Institutes of Health quality assessment tools. Results were grouped by type of intervention. The meta-analysis involved calculation of pooled effect sizes for interventions utilizing the same cognitive measure.

RESULTS

Eleven studies of moderate quality discussed drug therapy, transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, diet modification and dietary supplements, and inpatient rehabilitation. Some aspects of cognition were negatively affected by drugs while diet modification and supplement use, and transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation showed no evidence of a difference in cognitive scores when compared with no intervention. Inpatient rehabilitation revealed a small but beneficial effect, when results of seven studies were pooled.

CONCLUSION

Evidence on the effects of interventions on cognitive functioning in patients with traumatic spinal cord injury is sparse and inconclusive, so work in this area is timely. It is valuable to know not only which interventions are effective for improving cognition, but also how other commonly used interventions, intended to treat other injury sequela, can affect cognition. PROSPERO: CRD42018087238.Implications for rehabilitationHistorically, rehabilitation of patients with traumatic spinal cord injury has targeted physical impairments, with little attention to cognition; this research aimed to understand if current interventions are appropriate in light of the risk of patients' cognitive impairments. Evidence on the effects of drug therapy, diet and dietary supplements interventions on cognitive functioning in traumatic spinal cord injury is sparse and inconclusive.Combining multiple inpatient rehabilitation interventions shows a positive but heterogeneous effect on the cognitive functioning; interventions applied earlier show greater gains.A major challenge for clinicians is to select an outcome measure sensitive to change over time, and to relate the results to patients' change in cognitive abilities with intervention applicationResearch to understand the functional effect of spinal cord injury on the widely distributed networks of the central and autonomic nervous systems subserving cognition, is timely.

Management of Overactive Bladder in Older Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review will highlight our current understanding of age-related changes in bladder function and propose important clinical considerations in the management of overactive bladder (OAB) specific to older women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Frailty, functional and cognitive impairment, multimorbidity, polypharmacy, estrogen deficiency, and remaining life expectancy are important clinical factors to consider and may impact OAB symptom management in older women. Third-line therapies, particularly PTNS, may be preferable over second-line therapy in some cases. Due to the complexity within this population, the standard treatment algorithms may not be applicable, thus a broader, more holistic focus is recommended when managing OAB in older women.

The aging bladder insights from animal models

Alterations in bladder function with aging are very common and are very likely to represent an increasing healthcare problem in the years to come with the general aging of the population. In this review the authors describe the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and comment upon potential mechanisms which may be responsible for the increasing prevalence of lower LUTS with increasing age, based on laboratory studies. It is clear that there is a complex interplay between the various components of the neural innervation structure of the bladder in leading to changes with age, which are likely to underpin the LUTS which are seen in the aging bladder.

A pooled analysis of the efficacy of fesoterodine for the treatment of overactive bladder, and the relationship between safety, co-morbidity and polypharmacy in patients aged 65 years or older

Background

overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition in older persons. Antimuscarinic treatment remains the mainstay of treatment of OAB but clinicians have been reluctant to prescribe this to older patients. This study examined efficacy and safety information from patients >65 in fesoterodine trials to reaffirm efficacy and to explore the relationships between treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), coexisting medication and co-morbidity.

Methods

data from 10 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were analysed. A logistic regression analysis, where TEAE incidence was predicted by treatment, prior antimuscarinic treatment, number of coexisting medications, number of concomitant diseases and all possible combinations of two-way interaction terms with treatment was conducted.

Results

of 4,040 patients who participated in trials; fesoterodine treatment was associated with statistically significant reductions in all disease-related and patient-reported outcomes compared to placebo. There was a significant increase in the likelihood of reporting a TEAE in association with the number of coexistent medications (odds ratio (OR) = 1.028, 95% CI: 1.0143-1.044, P < 0.003). The OR of having a TEAE with increase in the number of concomitant diseases was 1.058 (95% CI: 1.044-1.072, P < 0.0001). Central nervous system (CNS) events were few.

Discussion

fesoterodine treatment led to clinically meaningful improvements across all included patient reported outcomes. The number of concomitant conditions had the greatest influence on the likelihood of an adverse event being reported. CNS TEAE were not associated with fesoterodine dose and were low across all categories of concomitant disease and coexisting medication.

A Mouse Model of Furosemide-Induced Overactive Bladder

Detailed in this unit is a mouse model of overactive bladder and urinary incontinence based on diuretic stress-induced urination. The procedure involves the use of a unique, highly sensitive, and automated urine capturing method to measure urinary latency, frequency, and void volume. Although this method was first described and validated using an anti-muscarinic drug used for treating overactive bladder, subsequent work has shown that effective non-cholinergic agents can be detected. These findings indicate good predictive value for this model regarding the possible clinical utility of test agents as treatments for overactive bladder, regardless of their site of action. © 2016 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An overlooked effect of systemic anticholinergics: alteration on accommodation amplitude

AIM

To investigate the effect of oral solifenacin succinate, tolterodine-L-tartarate and oxybutinin hydrochloride (HCl) on accommodation amplitude.

METHODS

Female overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) patients who were planned to use oral anticholinergics, patients that uses solifenacin succinate 5 mg (Group I, n=25), tolterodine-L-tartarate 4 mg (Group II, n=25), and oxybutinin HCl 5 mg b.i.d (Group III, n=25) and age matched healthy female subjects (Group IV, n=25) were recruited and complete ophthalmological examination and accommodation amplitude assessment were done at baseline and 4wk after initiation of treatment.

RESULTS

The mean age of 100 consecutive female subjects was 51.6±5.7 (40-60)y and there were no statistically significant difference with regard to the mean age (P=0.107) and baseline accommodation amplitude (P=0.148) between study groups. All treatment groups showed a significant decrease in accommodation amplitude following a 4-week course of anticholinergic treatment (P=0.008 in Group I, P=0.002 in Group II, P=0.001 in Group III), but there was no statistically significant difference in Group IV (P=0.065).

CONCLUSION

A 4-week course of oral anticholinergic treatment have statistically significant effect on accommodation amplitude. Clinicians should avoid both overestimating this result, as this would unnecessarily restrict therapeutic possibilities, and also underestimating it which may lead to drug intolerance.

Factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder symptoms

OBJECTIVE

To find out the factors affecting medication discontinuation in patients with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

METHODS

The clinical data of 125 patients with OAB symptoms who had taken antimuscarinics and behavioral therapy were retrospectively reviewed. Antimuscarinics related outcomes were evaluated by an independent observer with telephone interview. All patients were asked about duration of medication and reason of continuation or discontinuation of antimuscarinics. To determine pre-treatment factors predicting self-report discontinuation of antimuscarinics, variables of only those with P-values <0.25 on the univariate analysis were included in the Cox proportional hazard modeling.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 39.6 months and the proportion of discontinuation of antimuscarinics was 60.0% (75/125). The mean duration of medication was 21.2 months in the continuation group and 3.3 months in the discontinuation group. The reasons of discontinuation of antimuscarinics were improved OAB symptoms (46.7%), tolerable OAB symptoms (33.3%), no change of OAB symptoms (1.3%), side-effects (8.0%) and no desire to take long-term medication (10.7%). The variables affecting remaining cumulative probability of antimuscarinics were age, history of anti-incontinence surgery or vaginal surgery, and having stress predominant urinary incontinence on urodynamic study.

CONCLUSION

The lower rate of cumulative continuation of antimuscarinics encourages us to give a more detailed counseling and education to the patients with OAB symptoms before prescription. And explorations about newer agent and non-pharmacologic treatment with good efficacy and lower side-effects are needed.

Translational Research and Functional Changes in Voiding Function in Older Adults

Age-related LUT dysfunctions result from complex processes controlled by multiple genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors and account for high costs of health care. This article discusses risk factors that may play a role in age-related LUT dysfunction and presents available data comparing structural and functional changes that occur with aging in the bladder of humans and animal models. A better understanding of factors and mechanisms underlying LUT symptoms in the older population may lead to therapeutic interventions to reduce these dysfunctions.

[Consensus document on overactive bladder in older patients]

Overactive nladder (OAB) is a clinical entity with a high prevalence in the population, having a high impact on quality of life, especially when it occurs with urge urinary incontinence. It is very important to highlight the low rate of consultation of this condition by the older population. This appears to depend on several factors (educational, cultural, professional), and thus leads to the low percentage of older patients who receive appropriate treatment and, on the other hand, a large percentage of older patients with a significant deterioration in their quality of life. Therefore, Scientific societies and Working Groups propose the early detection of OAB in their documents and clinical guidelines. Its etiology is not well known, but is influenced by cerebrovascular processes and other neurological problems, abnormalities of the detrusor muscle of bladder receptors, and obstructive and inflammatory processes of the lower urinary tract. Its diagnosis is clinical, and in the great majority of the cases it can be possible to establish its diagnosis and etiopathogenic orientation, without the need for complex diagnostic procedures. Currently, there are effective treatments for OAB, and we should decide the most appropriate for each elderly patient, based on their individual characteristics. Based on the main clinical practice guidelines, a progressive treatment is proposed, with the antimuscarinics being the most recommended drug treatment. Therefore, a group of very involved professionals in clinical practice for the elderly, and representing two scientific Societies (Spanish Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology [SEGG], and the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians [SEMERGEN]) developed this consensus document with the main objective of establishing practices and valid strategies, focused to simplify the management of this clinical entity in the elderly population, and especially to improve their quality of life. The recommendations presented in this consensus document are the result of a comprehensive review and critical discussion of articles, documents and clinical guidelines on OAB, both nationally and internationally. Are, where possible, levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are included.

Review of the efficacy and safety of fesoterodine for treating overactive bladder and urgency urinary incontinence in elderly patients

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition, with prevalence rates increasing with advancing age. Symptoms of OAB, including urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), are associated with various co-morbidities in elderly individuals (e.g., falls and fractures, functional impairment, and depression). The current mainstay of pharmacological therapy for OAB is antimuscarinic agents. Until recently, few studies had specifically evaluated the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinics in the treatment of OAB symptoms in elderly patients. This review summarises available evidence from the medical literature on the efficacy and safety of fesoterodine in elderly patients with OAB symptoms, including UUI. The data from unique placebo-controlled fesoterodine trials of elderly and vulnerable elderly patients, together with age-stratified data from post hoc analyses of fesoterodine trials, demonstrate that treatment with fesoterodine 4 or 8 mg results in statistically and clinically significant improvements in OAB symptoms and patient-reported outcomes in many elderly patients. The data indicate that the efficacy of fesoterodine in elderly patients is comparable with that in younger patients. Fesoterodine is generally well tolerated in elderly and vulnerable elderly patients, with low rates of urinary retention and little evidence of central nervous system events or impaired cognition. The data support a favourable benefit-to-risk ratio for fesoterodine in elderly and medically complex vulnerable elderly patients with OAB.

The efficacy and tolerability of tarafenacin, a new muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3 antagonist in patients with overactive bladder; randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 study

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the dose-response relationship of tarafenacin, an antimuscarinic agent in development phase, for efficacy and safety, at daily doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mg for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multicentre, placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind, phase 2b study was conducted. Patients were randomised to tarafenacin 0.2 mg, tarafenacin 0.4 mg or placebo daily for 12 weeks. Adult patients with OAB for at least 6 months, with an average of ≥ 8 micturitions per day and ≥ 3 incontinence episodes or a total of ≥ 6 urgency episodes per 3 days were enrolled. The primary objective was to compare the mean changes in the number of micturitions per 24 h of the two doses of tarafenacin compared with placebo from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 334 patients were screened, of whom 235 patients were randomised. The mean decrease in the number of micturitions per 24 h from baseline to 12 weeks was statistically higher in the tarafenacin 0.4 mg group (-2.43 ± 2.21 times per day, p = 0.033) and non-statistically significant in the tarafenacin 0.2 mg group (-1.92 ± 2.45 times per day, p = 0.393) when compared with the placebo group (-1.77 ± 2.95 times per day). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean change of urgency episodes per 24 h among three groups. The most common adverse event was dry mouth. There were no significant differences in blurred vision and constipation compared with placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Tarafenacin 0.4 mg decreased the number of micturitions in patients with OAB after 12 weeks compared with placebo, and the dose-response relationship of tarafenacin 0.2 and 0.4 mg was confirmed. Both dose levels of tarafenacin were well tolerated.

Use of health care resources and associated costs in non-institutionalized vulnerable elders with overactive bladder treated with antimuscarinic agents in the usual medical practice

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of resources and health costs in vulnerable elderly institutionalized patients with overactive bladder (OAB) treated with fesoterodine, tolterodine or solifenacin in routine medical practice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A multicenter retrospective study, from the records of patients treated during 2008-2010 in three geographical locations and starting treatment with antimuscarinic (fesoterodine, solifenacin and tolterodine) for OAB. The attribute of vulnerability was based on collecting at least 3 of the Vulnerable Elders Survey criteria-13, age>75 years, poor/average age for health and difficulty in at least one daily physical activity.

MAIN MEASURES

morbidity, persistence and resource use and costs. Monitoring of patients was conducted over 52 weeks. A general linear model with covariates and bootstraping (1000) at random was used to construct the 95% CI of the cost differences between drugs.

RESULTS

Records of 552 patients (50.8% women, mean age: 80.2 years) were analyzed. Treated with fesoterodine (N=58), solifenacin (N=252) or tolterodine (N=212). The use of absorbent was 20.7%, 29.4% and 33.0% (P=.186), respectively. Persistence to treatment was slightly greater with fesoterodine. The patient healthcare costs/year were lower with fesoterodine, €1,775 (1550-2014) vs. solifenacin €2,062 (1911-2223) and tolterodine €2,149 (1,978-2,307), P=.042, as a result of lower utilization visits and concomitant medication.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the potential limitations of the study, the vulnerable elderly non institutionalized patients with OAB treated with fesoterodine, compared to solifenacin or tolterodine were associated with lower resource utilization and healthcare costs.

Are we shortchanging frail older people when it comes to the pharmacological treatment of urgency urinary incontinence?

Overactive bladder and urgency incontinence are common and distressing conditions in older people, for which the first-line pharmacological treatment is a bladder antimuscarinic agent. Of these, oxybutynin is often recommended in guidelines, but is associated with a higher incidence of adverse drug effects, and in particular has been suggested to have deleterious cognitive effects. Despite this, guidelines often suggest oxybutynin as first-line treatment, and insurance based healthcare systems often require oxybutynin to be used as a first-line therapy and fail before reimbursement for the cost of newer anticholinergics is authorised. We reviewed the literature of bladder antimuscarinics in older adults, using the headings overactive bladder, urinary frequency, urgency, urge, oxybutynin, antimuscarinic, older, older people, and frail. In general, oxybutynin had a similar efficacy to other anticholinergic drugs, but a higher incidence of adverse drug events, in particular significant yet unnoticed cognitive impairment. We conclude that oxybutynin should not be used in frail older people.

[Guidelines concerning urinary incontinence in elderly: construction and validation of GRAPPPA algorithm]

OBJECTIVES

Provide guidelines presented as an algorithm for practical evaluation and first line therapy of urinary incontinence in elderly.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Guidelines using formalized consensus guidelines method. These guidelines have been validated by a group of 40 experts quoting proposals, subsequently reviewed by an independent group of multidisciplinary experts (urologist, general practitioner, neurologist, gynecologist, geriatrist, specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation).

RESULTS

By means of 3 rounds of interrogation of the expert panel, GRAPPPA algorithm was constructed. This algorithm take in account both evaluation and first line therapeutic options in the different type of incontinences observed in this population (urge, stress and mixed incontinence). Initial evaluation consists to track down urinary retention (and subsequently fecal stool impaction, use of anticholinergic or morphinic drugs), urinary tract infection and cognitive impairment. Haematuria, bladder-pelvic pain, history of radiotherapy or recent pelvic surgery, lead to refer the patient to a specialized unit. First line therapy is in all the cases pelvic floor training, use of local oestrogenotherapy and dietetic measures. In urge incontinence, anticholinergic drugs may be used.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of this algorithm may promote best practice in management of urinary incontinence in elderly.

Anticholinergic medication use for female overactive bladder in the ambulatory setting in the United States

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Our objective was to estimate the prevalence and sociodemographic factors associated with anticholinergic medication use by adult women for overactive bladder (OAB) in the United States.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using the 2009 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey database (NAMCS). We included women aged 18 years and older and identified visits for which anticholinergic medications for OAB were in active use. We evaluated the prevalence of medications used and estimated the use of short-acting versus long-acting drugs. We also assessed variables associated with anticholinergic use, (age, race/ethnicity, insurance, geographic location) using survey weights in the analysis to estimate national data.

RESULTS

In 2009, adult women made 516.8 million outpatient office visits. Of these, 8.1 million (1.6 %) were associated with an OAB anticholinergic medication (annual rate 68 per 1,000 women). Women who used anticholinergics were predominantly insured by Medicare (61.0 %) and were older than those not using anticholinergic medications (70.0 ± 1.1 vs. 53.0 ± 0.5, p < 0.001). No racial or ethnic differences were evident between the two groups. Tolterodine (33.8 %) and oxybutynin (33.1 %) were the most commonly reported medications, followed by solifenacin (19.5 %), darifenacin (9.3 %), and trospium (4.4 %). Long-acting anticholinergics were used more often than short-acting medications (53.8 % vs. 46.3 %, respectively, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Annually, more than 8 million outpatient visits occur in which adult women in the United States are using an OAB anticholinergic medication. Despite the abundance of newer-generation medications, tolterodine and oxybutynin remain the most commonly prescribed anticholinergic drugs for OAB. Solifenacin is the most popular newer-generation anticholinergic drug.