Singapore Continence Week launched
Jointly organised by Singapore Urological Association and Society for Continence (Singapore), a series of free public forums will be organised in conjunction with Singapore Continence Week
A new class of treatment for overactive bladder
The Singapore Urological Association (SUA) and Society for Continence (Singapore) (SFCS), in partnership with Astellas Pharma Singapore, today announced the launch of Singapore Continence Week.
Singapore Continence Week is an annual initiative and its primary aim is to raise awareness about incontinence-related issues and to boost patients’ confidence to seek help and ultimately improve their quality of life.
In conjunction with Singapore Continence Week, SUA and SFCS will be organising a series of free public forums in English and Mandarin at Suntec Convention Centre on 27 and 28 June 2015. The series of public forums will educate the public about the condition of overactive bladder (OAB) and other continence-related conditions.
Urinary incontinence is the inability to hold urine in the bladder due to loss of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters (muscles) resulting in the involuntary passage of urine. There are different types of urinary incontinence. Stress incontinence, which is due to weakened pelvic floor muscles and tissues, and urge continence, which is often referred to as overactive bladder (OAB), are two types of urinary incontinence.
Prof Peter Lim, President of the SFCS, said, “Urinary incontinence is a treatable medical condition. If left unmanaged, it can lead to significant decrease in a patient’s quality of life. It is only through careful management of incontinence symptoms and treatment that patients can live better fulfilled lives.”
Most patients feel embarrassed to discuss on this topic and usually relate it as part of an aging process. Due to the stigma of the condition, many opt to suffer in silence and chose not to discuss it with their healthcare professionals.
Dr Tan Yeh Hong, President of SUA, said, “Urinary incontinence is usually a symptom of an underlying medical conditions, such as OAB, urinary tract infections and even prostate cancer. Through Singapore Continence Week, we hope that more people will be aware of the condition, so that they will receive accurate diagnosis, timely medical advice and treatment.”
Dr Tricia Kuo, Urologist at Singapore General Hospital said, “The general awareness for incontinence conditions and overactive bladder is increasing amongst Singaporeans. However, individuals are still finding it hard to step forward to receive treatment. This could be due to the fact that they are embarrassed about the condition, thus they are suffering in silence.”
Overactive Bladder – An Underdiagnosed and Undertreated Condition
OAB is a chronic condition of the bladder that causes sudden urges to urinate. The urge comes from bladder muscle contractions. The urge can happen suddenly and at any time, regardless of the amount of urine in the bladder and may cause urine leakage (incontinence).
OAB affects more than 400 million people worldwide. In Europe, OAB affects approximately 17% of men and women and increases to 30-40% for those aged over 75 years.
According to a study done by the Asia-Pacific Continence Advisory Board to find out the prevalence of OAB in Asia, it was found that the prevalence of OAB was 29.9% in men and 53.1% in women. Despite the high prevalence, only 5.9% of men and 21.1% of women received treatment. In Singapore, the overall prevalence for OAB in the general population is 10%.
Although OAB can occur at any age, the risk of OAB increases as one gets older. According to the National Association of Continence in the United States, it is estimated that 20% of adults who are 40 and above and about 33% of people over 65 are affected by OAB. OAB is also more likely to affect women than men.
Urinary incontinence has a social and economic impact on people. This includes a decrease in a patient’s quality of life. In the case of OAB, OAB is responsible for significant social, psychological, occupational, domestic, and physical stigmas.
In a survey of over 16,000 adult men and women in six European countries, 65%-67% of respondents with OAB indicated their daily lives were affected by their symptoms of OAB. Other studies have found that patients with OAB have a poorer quality of life than aged-match populations.The combination of these factors can affect a patient’s family, social and work life, in addition to their mental and physical health.
The First New Class of Oral Treatment in OAB
Despite the fact that OAB is a common condition, the condition remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Antimuscarinic therapy is the cornerstone of current overactive bladder (OAB) treatment, which may be accompanied with side effects. This has led to poor adherence to prescribed medications, with half of patients discontinuing OAB treatment after only three months. As such, there is a need for additional treatment options for OAB.
Approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2012, BETMIGA® (mirabegron) is a potent and selective beta-3 adrenoceptor agonist which works in a completely different way to antimuscarinics, the only other class of oral treatment for overactive bladder symptoms available until now. Antimuscarinic treatments work by blocking the muscarinic receptors in the bladder, inhibiting involuntary bladder contractions. On the other hand, BETMIGA® stimulates the beta-3 receptors (receptors that control the relaxation of the bladder muscles) in the muscle of the bladder causing it to relax. This improves the storage capacity of the bladder without impeding bladder voiding.
OAB and other continence conditions can severely impact a person’s quality of life. BETMIGA® has demonstrated superior efficacy in the treatment of symptoms of OAB in clinical trials, with patients needing to visit a toilet less frequently and experiencing fewer incontinence episodes.
BETMIGA® is available as a 25mg and 50mg once daily prolonged-release oral tablet in Europe. The recommended starting dose is 25 mg once daily with or without food.
