Intradetrusor OnabotulinumtoxinA outcomes for overactive bladder in older adults

In older adults, pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) with anticholinergics and beta-3 agonists could be associated with negative cognitive effects; highlighting the need for alternative treatment modalities. Currently, there is relatively little evidence assessing outcomes of onabotulinomtoxin-A injection as thirdline therapy in this population. This study sought to evaluate the outcomes of intradetrusor BTX-A injection in patients over 70 years of age between August 2014 March 2022. A retrospective chart review was performed on patients with a clinical diagnosis of OAB and who underwent an initial intradetrusor onabotulinomtoxinA injection at 70 years or older from three US centers. Patient characteristics and self-reported symptoms before and after injection were statistically analyzed. Amongst the 210 patients, 94% reported urinary urgency, 92% reported urgency urinary incontinence, and 89% reported daytime frequency. The most common medications initially prescribed were beta-3 agonist at 66% and anticholinergics at 65%. Following treatment, 80% reported >50% improvement in incontinence, 81% in urgency, 79% in daytime frequency, and 78% in nocturia. Temporary de novo intermittent catheterization was initiated in 8/210 (3.8%) patients, and one (0.5%) required indwelling catheter placement; with 67% returning for repeat injections. Thirty-six (17%) had a symptomatic urinary tract infection at follow-up. Seventy-five percent of patients did not require drug therapy following injection. In a subgroup analysis of octogenerians (n = 50/210), 73% showed improvement in urgency and 68% had less incontinence post-injection. OnabotulinomtoxinA was well tolerated in patients older than 70 with improvement in overactive bladder symptoms and reduction in requirement of drug therapy.