Objective: To evaluate the long-term effects of tolterodine on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients diagnosed with overactive bladder with incontinence.
Methods: Patients who completed a 12-week randomized, double-blind, safety and efficacy trial comparing tolterodine with placebo were invited to enroll in a 12-month open-label continuation trial to assess the long-term safety and efficacy of tolterodine. This study reports the HRQoL results from the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) that were administered at baseline, at the end of the 12-week trial, and 3 and 12 months following open-label treatment with tolterodine.
Results: One thousand seventy-seven patients were included in the intent-to-treat (ITT(B)) population. KHQ translations were available for 838 patients (mean age, 61.1 years; 80.9% women) in the ITT(B) population. HRQoL, as measured by the KHQ, significantly improved from baseline to months 3 and 12 on the following domains: incontinence impact, role limitations, physical limitations, social limitations, personal relationships, emotions, sleep and energy, severity (coping) measures, and symptom severity. Improvements were generally consistent across all analyses for the 3- and 12-month measurements and for the ITT(B) and completer (C(B)) populations. Patients receiving tolterodine in the double-blind study showed additional improvement at the 3-month open-label assessment on all but the general health domain. At 12 months from treatment rollover, all improvements from rollover to 3 months were sustained with additional improvement seen on the incontinence impact and role limitations domains. The general health perceptions domain showed a slight decline from rollover that might be attributable to a natural decline in patients' health status at this life stage. These findings were consistent with other efficacy results whereby efficacy was maintained over the 12-month open-label period. SF-36 results were consistent with previous experience of reduced sensitivity, as population groups were similar to the SF-36 Physical Component and Mental Component scores at various time points and with all populations.
Conclusion: Continued treatment with tolterodine provides additional benefits in HRQoL as measured by the KHQ. Of particular importance are improvements on the psychological aspects after longer-term treatment not detected after a short-term trial. Treatment effects on HRQoL are evident even after a 12-week placebo run-in supporting the true clinical effect of active treatment.