Dr Smart's webinar sheds light on the complexities of OAB treatment, discussing the comparative efficacy, safety, and tolerability of mirabegron and anticholinergic drugs. Notably, mirabegron emerges as a promising alternative to anticholinergics, offering comparable efficacy and tolerability with a favourable safety profile. Despite these advancements, challenges such as treatment discontinuation rates persist, highlighting the importance of individualised treatment approaches tailored to each patient's unique circumstances.
If you missed this CPD-accredited webinar on Navigating overactive bladder treatment: A Comparative analysis of mirabegron and anticholinergics, go to https://vimeo.com/event/4185364 to view the replay. The webinar is sponsored by Cipla.
Overactive bladder (OAB) presents a significant challenge for patients and healthcare providers alike, with its prevalence ranging from 12% to 18% of the population.
Understanding the nuances of treatment options is crucial for effective management. Dr David Smart looked at the complexities of OAB treatment, and discussed the comparative efficacy, safety, and tolerability of mirabegron and anticholinergic drugs.
The webinar highlighted key insights into OAB management based on Dr Smart's expertise in the field. One of the fundamental points emphasised was the definition of OAB as a symptom complex characterised by urgency, often accompanied by frequency and nocturia, with or without incontinence. Notably, detrusor overactivity is a prevalent underlying condition, observed in 64% of OAB patients and in 83% of those with detrusor overactivity.
Anticholinergic drugs have long been a mainstay in OAB treatment. However, Dr Smart outlined several challenges associated with their use. Of particular concern is the increasing evidence linking anticholinergic use to enhanced dementia risk and acute cognitive dysfunction. To aid healthcare providers in navigating these risks, tools such as the Anticholinergic Burden Calculator have been developed to quantify the cumulative burden of anticholinergic medications, available at www.acbcalc.com
Considering these challenges, Dr Smart highlighted mirabegron as a promising alternative to anticholinergics. As a beta-3 agonist, mirabegron offers comparable efficacy and tolerability while boasting a favourable safety profile when compared to both placebo and anticholinergic medications.
Despite the availability of alternatives, discontinuation rates for OAB treatments remain high, driven by factors such as side effects, cost, and reimbursement issues, as well as patient and physician expectations. Dr Smart emphasised the importance of managing these factors to optimise treatment adherence and patient outcomes.
CONCLUSION
In summary, while there have been no major changes in the sequence of OAB management, a better understanding of the risks associated with drug therapy has emerged. Newer agents, such as mirabegron, offer improved tolerability and lower cardiovascular side effects compared to traditional medications. However, it is essential to recognise that no drug is perfectly safe, underscoring the need for individualised treatment approaches tailored to each patient's unique circumstances.
Dr Smart's webinar provides valuable insights into the nuanced landscape of OAB treatment, equipping healthcare providers with the knowledge needed to navigate treatment decisions effectively. For those who missed the live presentation, the replay is available for viewing, offering an opportunity to gain CPD-accredited education on this critical topic.
