Outcome

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) significantly improved symptom scores and quality of life in female patients with overactive bladder (OAB) showing lasting effects three months post-treatment. Both HBOT and mirabegron treatments yielded similar improvements indicating that HBOT could be a new treatment option for OAB.

Introduction

Overactive bladder (OAB) affects many individuals leading to symptoms like urgency frequent urination nocturia and often urinary incontinence which can significantly impact quality of life. This study explores the potential of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy as a new treatment option for OAB comparing its effectiveness with the commonly used medication mirabegron. Conducted as a prospective observational cohort the study divided patients into two groups: one receiving HBO2 therapy and the other receiving mirabegron treatment. Significant improvements in symptom scores were observed in both groups by the third month of treatment indicating that HBO2 treatment can effectively reduce OAB symptoms and improve quality of life. The study suggests that HBO2 therapy could be a promising alternative treatment for OAB offering benefits that persist even after the treatment period.

Results

The study’s findings indicate that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) shows significant promise as a treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) in female patients. The participants were divided into two groups: one group received HBOT while the other was treated with mirabegron a commonly used medication for OAB. Both groups exhibited substantial improvements in symptom scores and quality of life compared to their baseline scores with no significant differences between the two treatment methods.

For the HBOT group mean score improvements at the third month were 4.12 ± 3.51 for the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) -10.70 ± 6.92 for the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-V8) and -4.51 ± 2.68 for the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). The mirabegron group showed similar improvements with changes of -4.31 ± 3.16 -11.22 ± 5.93 and -3.68 ± 2.67 for the same respective scores. The comparison between the groups yielded p-values of 0.81 0.73 and 0.19 respectively indicating equivalent efficacy between HBOT and mirabegron.

Additionally the HBOT group maintained their improved symptom scores up to three months post-treatment suggesting that the benefits of HBOT are not only significant but also enduring. These results underline the potential of HBOT as a viable alternative treatment for OAB offering comparable efficacy to mirabegron with possibly fewer side effects.

Given its effectiveness and the lasting nature of the improvements HBOT could represent a new therapeutic option for managing OAB symptoms providing patients with an additional potentially more favorable treatment choice.

Conclusion

In conclusion this study illustrates that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a promising treatment option for female patients with overactive bladder (OAB). Both HBOT and the established medication mirabegron significantly improved symptom scores and quality of life with effects persisting for three months post-treatment. These findings demonstrate HBOT’s potential to alleviate OAB symptoms such as urgency nocturia and frequent urination paralleling the efficacy of traditional pharmacotherapy. The sustained improvement in quality of life observed with HBOT highlights its viability as an alternative treatment. Future research could further explore HBOT’s long-term benefits optimal treatment protocols and its comparative efficacy in different demographic cohorts. This study underscores the potential of HBOT as a valuable addition to OAB management strategies opening avenues for diversified patient care.