Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Older Adults with Overactive Bladder

Valentín Manríquez, Michel Naser, Gerardo Fasce, Diane Gutierrez, Ariel Castro, Rodrigo Guzmán, Giuseppe A. Digesu, Steven Swift.

Introduction: Overactive bladder (OAB) is prevalent among older adults and treatment options include transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TcTNS). The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of at home self-administered TcTNS therapy in older adults with OAB.

Methods: A prospective observational study of 37 women, 65 years of age and older, with OAB was conducted. Previous continence surgery, pelvic organ prolapse of >/= to POP-Q stage III, recurrent urinary tract infections, neurogenic OAB or cognitive deficits were excluded. Subjects were instructed and treated themselves at home daily with a TcTNS for one month. Efficacy was evaluated using a 3-day bladder diary and Quality of life questionnaire (oab-q). A positive treatment response was at least a 50% reduction in episodes of urinary urgency. STATA V.12.1 was used for data analysis, with a p-value of 5%.

Results: A total of 37 women were studied. The mean age was 79 years (range: 68 – 90). No adverse effects were reported. After the monthly TcTNS treatment, there was a significant improvement in all the bladder diary parameters quality of life survey, compared to the baseline data (p<0.05). The overall response to treatment was 53%, and 13% of patients reported no episodes of incontinence post TcPTNS.

Conclusions: TcTNS is an effective tool for controlling symptoms of OAB in older women. Daily at home stimulation for a month achieves therapeutic effects similar to those described after weekly or bi-weekly stimulation over the course of three months.