Mirabegron Alleviates the Degree of Burden Experienced by Caregivers of Older Females with Mixed or Urge Incontinence: A Prospective Study

Abstract

Purpose

Older people, especially women, have the highest known prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) of any other age-group. Continual care provision for elderly incontinent females is an incredibly arduous process, yet only very few studies have investigated the issue. Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of mirabegron’s treatment on the degree of burden experienced by caregivers of elderly female patients with UI.

Patients and Methods

A hundred and eighty-six caregivers of older females with mixed or urgency UI besides various conditions (strokes, post-operative recovery after major surgery, etc.) were included in the study. Group A comprised 91 patients that did not want to receive any treatment for UI. Group B consisted of 95 elderly females treated for UI with mirabegron 50 mg/daily for three months. All caregivers completed the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBS) questionnaire at the outset and after the three months. All patients completed a bladder diary at the beginning and at the end of the observation/medication period.

Results

Patients receiving mirabegron presented a statistically significant improvement in UI parameters. Their caregivers showed a statistically significant decrease in the ZBS total score as well as separate domains.

Conclusion

This pilot study confirms that mirabegron administration can improve the quality of life of older females suffering from UI while substantially relieving caregiver burden. Recognizing the physical and emotional reactions of caregivers may help health providers deliver better support and resources to meet the needs of caregivers and patients alike.

Keywords:

• mirabegron
• caregiver
• Zarit Burden Scale
• aging
• incontinence

Abbreviations

UI, urinary incontinence; ZBS, Zarit Burden Scale; OAB, overactive bladder; MMSE, Mini-Mental State Examination; IQRs, interquartile ranges; 3IQ, 3 Incontinence Questions.

Data Sharing Statement

The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Ethics Approval

Ethical and access approvals for study procedures were obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Rehabilitation Centre EU PRATTEIN. The study was conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki, and participants provided written informed consent before the interviews.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work. The abstract of preliminary data of this paper was presented at the 47th Annual Meeting of the International Continence Society (abstract 503) as a poster presentation with interim findings, https://www.ics.org/2017/abstract/503.