Real life persistence rate with antimuscarinic treatment in patients with idiopathic or neurogenic overactive bladder: a prospective cohort study with solifenacin

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that the antimuscarinic treatment of overactive bladder is characterized by low long-term persistence rates. We have investigated the persistence of solifenacin in real life by means of telephonic interviews in a prospective cohort. We included both patients with idiopathic overactive bladder as well as neurogenic overactive bladder. METHODS: From June 2009 until July 2012 patients with idiopathic or neurogenic overactive bladder who were newly prescribed solifenacin were included. In total 123 subjects were followed prospectively during one year by means of four telephonic interviews, which included questions about medication use and adverse events. RESULTS: After one year 40% of all patients included was still using solifenacin, 50% discontinued and 10% was lost to follow-up. In the neurogenic group 58% was still using solifenacin versus 32% in the idiopathic group after one year (p < 0,05). The main reasons to stop solifenacin were lack of efficacy, side effects and a combination of both. CONCLUSIONS: This prospective cohort study showed a real life continuation rate of 40% after 12 months. This continuation rate is higher than found in most other studies. The use of regular telephonic evaluation might have improved medication persistence. The findings of this study also suggest that patients with neurogenic overactive bladder have a better persistence with this method of evaluation compared to patients with idiopathic overactive bladder. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered on march 17, 2017 at the ISRCTN registry with study ID ISRCTN13129226. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12894-017-0216-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.