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Overactive Bladder and the Workplace

  • Overactive Bladder (U Lee and S MItchell, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review examines the associations between overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) and the workplace, specifically focusing on aspects of employment, occupational settings, and work toilet environment (i.e., toilet infrastructure and access) that may contribute to the development of OAB or be impacted by urinary symptoms resulting from OAB.

Recent Findings

Several, cross-sectional, and clinical studies have identified significant bi-directional associations between the workplace and bladder health, including OAB, as well as important barriers and restrictions facing certain workers afflicted by OAB.

Summary

While OAB symptoms and treatments can have negative impacts on employment and occupational opportunities, workplace and occupational settings can have deleterious impacts on bladder health and contribute to the development and exacerbation of OAB. Even though the evidence-based relating OAB and occupational health is expansive and growing, there is still a need for research focusing on homogenous occupational and control group comparisons to determine the causal factors associated with these findings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Elisabeth M. Sebesta, Roger R. Dmochowski & W. Stuart Reynolds

  2. Department of Urology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Elizabeth Rourke

Authors
  1. Elisabeth M. Sebesta
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  2. Elizabeth Rourke
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  3. Roger R. Dmochowski
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  4. W. Stuart Reynolds
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Correspondence to Elisabeth M. Sebesta.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Sebesta and Dr. Rourke deny that they have any conflict of interest. Dr. Reynolds reports grants from National Institutes of Health during the conduct of the study. Dr. Dmochowski reports personal fees from Viveve, Caldera, and Blue Wind during the conduct of the study.

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Sebesta, E.M., Rourke, E., Dmochowski, R.R. et al. Overactive Bladder and the Workplace. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 17, 197–203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-022-00662-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-022-00662-7

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