A new study suggests that people with arthritis may be more likely to have overactive bladder (OAB), a condition that causes frequent and sudden urges to urinate. The research, published on February 13 in Scientific Reports, found a strong connection between the two conditions, even after considering other health factors.
Researchers from Jiangnan University Medical Center in China analyzed health data from 24,436 people collected between 2005 and 2020. Their findings showed that people with arthritis were 37% more likely to have OAB than those without arthritis.
What Type of Arthritis is Linked to OAB?
When researchers looked at different types of arthritis, they found that osteoarthritis had the strongest link to OAB. People with osteoarthritis were 40% more likely to have OAB than those without arthritis.
However, the connection was weaker for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. While there was some indication of a link, the results were not strong enough to confirm a significant association.
What Does This Mean?
The study suggests that osteoarthritis may increase the risk of developing OAB. The exact reason is unclear, but it could be due to pain, inflammation, or reduced mobility, which may affect bladder function.
The researchers recommend that urologists check for signs of arthritis in patients with OAB and consider their musculoskeletal health when diagnosing and treating the condition.
While this study highlights a potential connection, more research is needed to understand why osteoarthritis and OAB are linked and how to best manage both conditions together.
If you care about pain, please read studies about vitamin K deficiency linked to hip fractures in old people, and these vitamins could help reduce bone fracture risk.
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The research findings can be found in Scientific Reports.
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