Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32167223›Full record

ArticleBJU international2020

Increased risk of dementia among patients with overactive bladder treated with an anticholinergic medication compared to a beta-3 agonist: a population-based cohort study.

Blayne Welk, Eric McArthur

2 registry-linked trialsAbstract readComparative StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BJU international, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 48 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
48citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
13.1field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05221021 phase4recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Vaginal Estradiol vs Oral Beta-3 Agonist for Treatment of Overactive Bladder Syndrome: A Single-Therapy, Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorWalter Reed National Military Medical CenterRan2022 to 2027Enrolled152ConditionsOveractive Bladder SyndromeArmsVaginal estrogen, Mirabegron 50 MG [Myrbetriq]
NCT06387329 phase4recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Urinary Tract Infection Prophylaxis In Intradetrusor OnabotulinumtoxinA Procedures: A Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorWalter Reed National Military Medical CenterRan2024 to 2025Enrolled100ConditionsOveractive Bladder, Bladder Pain SyndromeArmsNitrofurantoin 100 MG
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

48 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 105 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Risk of dementia in patients treated with anticholinergics for overactive bladder syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Blayne WelkDepartment of Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0001-7093-558X
Eric McArthurICES, London, ON, Canada.
Western University · CA

Funding

Academic Medical Organization of Southwestern Ontario (AMOSO)Department of Surgery, Western University 2019-003Lawson Health Research Institute (LHRI)Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC)Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry (SSMD)Western University
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo determine if there is an increased risk of dementia among patients with overactive bladder (OAB) starting an anticholinergic medication compared to those starting a beta-3 agonist.

methodsWe conducted a population-based, retrospective, matched cohort study using linked administrative data from Ontario, Canada from 2010 to 2018. We matched 47 324 new users of anticholinergic medications (oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin, darifenacin, fesoterodine, trospium) to 23 662 new users of a beta-3 agonist medication (mirabegron); all of the included medications are only indicated for the treatment of OAB. We measured 75 baseline variables (including comorbid conditions, recent medications, and prior healthcare utilization) and used these to create a propensity score; groups were similar across all measured variables after matching. The primary exposure was the class of OAB medication (anticholinergic or beta-3 agonist). The primary outcome was dementia using a validated administrative data definition.

resultsThe most common anticholinergics used were tolterodine (40%), oxybutynin (29%) and solifenacin (26%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) prescription duration of anticholinergics was 30 (30-170) days. The median (IQR) prescription duration of a beta-3 agonist (mirabegron) was 64 (30-317) days. There was an increased risk of dementia among anticholinergic users compared to beta-3 agonist users (hazard ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 1.12-1.35). There was a significant effect modification based on both gender and age; men and those aged ≤75 years on anticholinergics had the highest risk of dementia relative to similar beta-3 agonist users.

conclusionsThe use of anticholinergic medications among patients with OAB was associated with an increased risk of new-onset dementia compared to beta-3 agonist users. These results address the potential protopathic bias present in other studies on this topic and support the association between anticholinergic medication use and dementia.

Indexed as

Population SurveillanceAdrenergic beta-3 Receptor AgonistsAgedAged, 80 and overCholinergic AntagonistsDementiaFemaleHumansIncidenceMaleOntarioRetrospective StudiesRisk AssessmentRisk FactorsUrinary Bladder, OveractiveAdrenergic beta-3 Receptor AgonistsCholinergic Antagonistsanticholinergicsdementiaoveractive bladder

Identifiers

PMID32167223
OpenAlexW3012700435

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.