Comparison of intravaginal electrical stimulation and trospium hydrochloride in women with overactive bladder syndrome: a randomized controlled study

Objective: To compare the effects of trospium hydrochloride and electrical stimulation on urodynamic parameters, bladder diary, quality of life and psychological symptoms in female patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Design: Prospective, randomized controlled trial. Setting: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital. Subjects: Thirty-five patients were divided into either trospium chloride (Group 1) or intravaginal electrical stimulation therapy (Group 2). Main outcome measures: All patients were assessed at the beginning of the treatment, at weeks 6 (end of treatment), 10 and 18 according to urodynamic parameters, voiding diary parameters, severity of urgency (visual analogue scale, VAS), the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form (IIQ-7), and the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Statistically significant improvements were observed in both groups according to some urodynamic parameters, voiding diary parameters, VAS urgency severity, Incontinence Impact Questionnaire Short Form and Beck Depression Inventory scores at the end of the treatment (P<0.05). During the 18-week follow-up period, deteriorations were observed in many parameters in both groups although improvements in the frequency of urgency, the frequency of incontinence episodes, VAS urgency severity, and Beck Depression Inventory score in Group 2 persisted (P<0.05). Significant differences were not detected between groups at the end of the treatment or during the posttreatment follow-up controls (P>0.05). Conclusion: No difference was detected between trospium hydrochloride and intravaginal electrical stimulation in the treatment of female overactive bladder syndrome. Discontinuation of both treatments caused deterioration in most of the objective and subjective symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome.