Health Disparities and Overactive Bladder: Bridging the Gap

Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, Griffiths D, Rosier P, Ulmsten U, et al. The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Urology. 2003;61(1):37–49.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Coyne KS, Margolis MK, Kopp ZS, Kaplan SA. Racial differences in the prevalence of overactive bladder in the United States from the epidemiology of LUTS (EpiLUTS) study. Urology. 2012;79(1):95–101.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gonzalez DC, Khorsandi S, Mathew M, Enemchukwu E, Syan R. A systematic review of racial/ethnic disparities in female pelvic floor disorders. Urology. 2022;163:8–15.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Lapitan MC, Chye PL, Asia-Pacific Continence Advisory Board. The epidemiology of overactive bladder among females in Asia: a questionnaire survey. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2001;12(4):226–31.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Duralde ER, Walter LC, Van Den Eeden SK, Nakagawa S, Subak LL, Brown JS et al. Bridging the gap: determinants of undiagnosed or untreated urinary incontinence in women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016;214(2):266.e1-266.e9.

Zuo SW, English K, Agalliu I, Leegant A, Abraham N. Racial and ethnic differences in urodynamic parameters in women with overactive bladder symptoms. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2020;26(2):141–5.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Brady SS, Arguedas A, Huling JD, Hellemann G, Lewis CE, Jacobs DR, et al. Financial strain across 25 years and men’s lower urinary tract symptoms: a life course perspective. Am J Mens Health. 2025;19(2):15579883251330117.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Tellechea L, Zuo S, Kohn JR, Fazzari MJ, Eisenberg R, Lee J, et al. The effect of social determinants of health on overactive bladder symptom severity. J Urol. 2021;205(5):1415–20.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Gurayah AA, Satish S, Yarborough CC, Perez N, Amin K, Enemchukwu EA, et al. Pelvic floor disorders among minority women: differences in prevalence, severity and health-related social needs. Urology. 2024;186:147–53.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Brown K, Choi K, Kim E, Campbell SM, Schulz J, Moffitt P, et al. Experiences of Indigenous peoples living with pelvic health conditions: a scoping review. PLoS ONE. 2025;20(4):e0307010.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Williams DR. Race, socioeconomic status, and health. The added effects of racism and discrimination. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1999;896:173–88.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Williams DR, Lawrence JA, Davis BA, Vu C. Understanding how discrimination can affect health. Health Serv Res. 2019;54(Suppl 2):1374–88.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Brady SS, Arguedas A, Huling JD, Hellemann G, Lewis CE, Fok CS, et al. Discrimination and bladder health among women in the CARDIA cohort study: Life course and intersectionality perspectives. Soc Sci Med. 2024;341:116547.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Vats V, Thompson C, Kopp ZS, Milsom I. National community prevalence of overactive bladder in the United States stratified by sex and age. Urology. 2011;77(5):1081–7.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Wolff GF, Kuchel GA, Smith PP. Overactive bladder in the vulnerable elderly. Res Rep Urol. 2014;6:131–8.

PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Litman HJ, Steers WD, Wei JT, Kupelian V, Link CL, McKinlay JB, et al. Relationship of lifestyle and clinical factors to lower urinary tract symptoms: results from Boston Area Community Health survey. Urology. 2007;70(5):916–21.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Suskind AM, Jin C, Walter LC, Finlayson E. Frailty and the Role of Obliterative versus Reconstructive Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A National Study. J Urol. 2017 June;197(6):1502–6.

Enemchukwu EA, Subak LL, Markland A. Barriers and facilitators to overactive bladder therapy adherence. Neurourol Urodyn. 2022;41(8):1983–92.

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Cohen AJ, Ndoye M, Fergus KB, Lindsey J, Butler C, Patino G, et al. Forecasting Limited Access to Urology in Rural Communities: Analysis of the American Urological Association Census. J Rural Health. 2020 June;36(3):300–6.

Cline SA, McLaughlin K, Arnold N, Austin MM. Distribution of certified pelvic health physical therapists across the United States. J Womens Pelvic Health Phys Ther. 2024;48(4):242.

Article  Google Scholar 

Garg T, Meeks WD, Coward RM, Merrill SB, Huang WC, Burnett AL. Demographic and Practice Trends of Rural Urologists in the U.S.: Implications for Workforce Policy. Urol Pract. 2022 Sept;9(5):481–90.

Burnett AL, Impact on Rural Practice - American Urological Association. https://auanews.net/. [cited 2025 Nov 17]. Diversity Urology Workforce Trends and. Available from: https://auanews.net/issues/articles/2024/april-2024-extra/diversity-urology-workforce-trends-and-impact-on-rural-practice

Lehner K, Ungerer G, Granberg C, Koo K. Geographical changes in rural access to Urological Care in the United States. AUA News [Internet]. 2024 May [cited 2025 Nov 17]; Available from: https://www.auajournals.org/doi/https://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001009356.04608.d5.06

American Urological Association. auanet.org. [cited 2025 Nov 17]. Census Results - American Urological Association. Available from: https://www.auanet.org/research-and-data/aua-census/census-results

Powell LC, Szabo SM, Walker D, Gooch K. The economic burden of overactive bladder in the United States: a systematic literature review. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018;37(4):1241–9.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Goren A, Zou KH, Gupta S, Chen C. Direct and indirect cost of urge urinary incontinence with and without pharmacotherapy. Int J Clin Pract. 2014;68(3):336–48.

Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sura S, Shiozawa A, Ng D, Aparasu RR. Higher Resource Utilization and Costs in Long-Term Nursing Home Residents With Overactive Bladder: A Retrospective Study of Medicare Beneficiaries. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2021 June;22(6):1300–6.

Shapiro K, Dusetzina SB, Brucker BM, Escobar CM. Analyzing access and costs of oral medications for overactive bladder: uncovering disparities. Urology. 2024;183:57–62.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Sebesta EM, Gleicher S, Kaufman MR, Dmochowski RR, Reynolds WS. Associations between unmet social needs and overactive bladder. J Urol. 2022;208(5):1106–15.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Heller CG, Rehm CD, Parsons AH, Chambers EC, Hollingsworth NH, Fiori KP. The association between social needs and chronic conditions in a large, urban primary care population. Prev Med. 2021;153:106752.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Khalfay N, Lo E, Grisales T, Ackerman AL. An Analysis of Stated Insurance Coverage and Estimated Patient-Incurred Costs of Treatments for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Urogynecol (Phila). 2023;29(2):287–94.

Article  Google Scholar 

Gaddam NG, Wallace MB, Dieter AA. A comparison of U.S. individual and family plan medication coverage for overactive bladder. Urogynecol (Phila). 2024;30(3):214–22.

Article  Google Scholar 

Ndugga N, Hill L, Artiga S. Key Data on Health and Health Care by Race and Ethnicity [Internet]. KFF. 2024 [cited 2025 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/key-data-on-health-and-health-care-by-race-and-ethnicity/

Vurture G, Jenkins N, Jacobson N, Smilen SW. Barriers to Adherence to Overactive Bladder Treatment for Hispanic Women. UROGC [Internet]. 2024 Aug 2 [cited 2025 June 13]; Available from: https://journals.lww.com/https://doi.org/10.1097/SPV.0000000000001564

Filipetto FA, Fulda KG, Holthusen AE, McKeithen TM, McFadden P. The patient perspective on overactive bladder: a mixed-methods needs assessment. BMC Fam Pract. 2014;15:96.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Davenport A, Stark S, Quian A, Sheyn D, Mangel J. A Patient-Centered Approach to Refractory Overactive Bladder and Barriers to Third-Line Therapy. Volume 134. Obstetrics & Gynecology; 2019 July. p. 141. 1.

Brodsky CN, Sitto HM, Wittmann D, Wallner LP, Streur C, DeJonckheere M, et al. There is a lot of shame that comes with this: A qualitative study of patient experiences of isolation, embarrassment, and stigma associated with overactive bladder. Neurourol Urodyn. 2024;43(8):1817–25.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Rasner P, Arcila-Ruiz M, Silva JAF, Nuanthaisong U, Cho SY, Chung E. Barriers to early and effective overactive bladder management in male patients with lower urinary tract symptoms. PLOS ONE. 2025 July 23;20(7):e0328723.

Smith AL, Nissim HA, Le TX, Khan A, Maliski SL, Litwin MS, et al. Misconceptions and miscommunication among aging women with overactive bladder symptoms. Urology. 2011;77(1):55–9.

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Foster P, Luebke M, Razzak AN, Anderson DJ, Hasoon J, Viswanath O, et al. Stigmatization as a Barrier to Urologic Care: A Review. Health Psychol Res. 2023;11:84273.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Melville JL, Wagner LE, Fan MY, Katon WJ, Newton KM. Women’s Perceptions about the Etiology of Urinary Incontinence. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2008 Sept;17(7):1093–8.

Wu JM, Stinnett S, Jackson RA, Jacoby A, Learman LA, Kuppermann M. Prevalence and incidence of urinary incontinence in a diverse population of women with noncancerous gynecologic conditions. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2010;16(5):284–9.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Coyne KS, Sexton CC, Bell JA, Thompson CL, Dmochowski R, Bavendam T, et al. The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB) by racial/ethnic group and age: results from OAB-POLL. Neurourol Urodyn. 2013;32(3):230–7.

Comments (0)

No login
gif