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Despite Recommendations, Anticholinergics Account for the Majority of Prescriptions to Treat Overactive Bladder in the United States
Danielle N. Carr, Annliz Macharia, Michele R. Hacker, William D. Winkelman. Urogynecology, 2022-11-12
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
From 2013 to 2019, Medicare Part D beneficiaries 65 years or older received 47.7 million 30-day fills for the treatment of OAB. In 2013, anticholinergics represented 98% of the total 30-day fills (5.6 million) for OAB. The use of β3 agonists was nearly 24 times greater in 2019 than in 2013. Geographic variation in prescribing practices was evident. The number of anticholinergics dispensed for the treatment of OAB remained relatively stable, and there was a substantial increase in the use of β3 agonists. Percentages of anticholinergics dispensed varied among states. More patients are being treated for OAB; however, anticholinergics comprised the majority of prescriptions for treatment in 2019.
Key findings
- From 2013 to 2019, Medicare Part D beneficiaries 65 years or older received 47.7 million 30-day fills for the treatment of OAB.
- In 2013, anticholinergics represented 98% of the total 30-day fills (5.6 million) for OAB.
- The use of β3 agonists was nearly 24 times greater in 2019 than in 2013.
- Geographic variation in prescribing practices was evident.
- The number of anticholinergics dispensed for the treatment of OAB remained relatively stable, and there was a substantial increase in the use of β3 agonists.
Why it matters
This study describes prescribing patterns for overactive bladder in Medicare beneficiaries and found that anticholinergics made up most prescriptions in 2019, with geographic variation. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease, though anticholinergic medicines are sometimes discussed in relation to cognition.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Urogynecology) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Urogynecology: journal h-index 52 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 10 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author William D. Winkelman: h-index 12 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36730660) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1097/spv.0000000000001301
- PubMed: 36730660
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Carr, D. N., Macharia, A., Hacker, M. R., & Winkelman, W. D. (2022). Despite Recommendations, Anticholinergics Account for the Majority of Prescriptions to Treat Overactive Bladder in the United States. Urogynecology. https://doi.org/10.1097/spv.0000000000001301
Vancouver
Carr DN, Macharia A, Hacker MR, Winkelman WD. Despite Recommendations, Anticholinergics Account for the Majority of Prescriptions to Treat Overactive Bladder in the United States. Urogynecology. 2022. doi:10.1097/spv.0000000000001301. PMID: 36730660.
BibTeX
@article{carr2022-36730660,
author = {Carr, Danielle N. and Macharia, Annliz and Hacker, Michele R. and Winkelman, William D.},
title = {{Despite Recommendations, Anticholinergics Account for the Majority of Prescriptions to Treat Overactive Bladder in the United States}},
journal = {Urogynecology},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1097/spv.0000000000001301},
pmid = {36730660},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/spv.0000000000001301}
}
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