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Comparative assessment of oral medications for overactive bladder in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Wenjuan He, Chunyu Wang, Bokun Chen, Menghao Li, Xinhui Zhang, Wenyan Cui, Qian Sun, Xinyue Jiang et al.

The Aging Male, 2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To systematically compare the efficacy and safety of medications in elderly with overactive bladder. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Register of Clinical Trials databases were systematically searched from database inception to July 25, 2023, and randomized, controlled, double-blind trials for overactive bladder in the elderly were screened according to the protocol. Data were analyzed using Stata17.0. RESULTS: In terms of reducing Micturitions, the interventions were ranked: trospium chloride (TRO), fesoterodine (FES) 4/8 mg, vibegron (VIB), mirabegron (MIR) 25/50 mg, tolterodine ER (TOL) 4 mg, placebo (PBO), of which only TOL showed no significant difference compared to placebo; Forsafety, the TEAE of TOL 4/8 mg had the highest incidence and was significantly different from others; MIR, VIB, and FES 4mg were well-tolerated regarding dry mouth and constipation; TOL 4 mg, FES 4/8 mg, and VIB showed a statistically increase from placebo for headache and FES 4/8mg and MIR 25 mg showed a statistically increase for dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: TRO 60 mg has the best efficacy in reducing micturitions, but increases the incidence of dry mouth and constipation; VIB and MIR are well tolerated in dry mouth and constipation, but may increase the risk of headache or dizziness.

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