Overactive bladder is a condition of urinary urgency with or without urge-incontinence usually associated with increased day time frequency and nocturia. It may be dry or wet according to the presence or absence of urinary incontinence. the overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS) is one of the widely used questionnaires. It is quantitative and can be rapidly self‐administered. Urodynamic investigations are widely regarded as the most accurate tools for the diagnosis of bladder overactivity. However, Urodynamic investigations are invasive and have limitations associated with accuracy and reproducibility.

The present retrospective study included female patients with overactive bladder symptoms who underwent urodynamic evaluation. Symptoms assessment using the OABSS  questionnaire was done using questions about the following 4 symptoms of OAB: daytime
frequency, nocturia, urgency, and urge incontinence. Patients who complained of OAB symptoms, with a total OABSS score ≥ 3, were included. the exclusion criteria were patients with obvious bladder pathologies,, large residual urine of > 150 mL,  detrusor underactivity, previous anti-incontinence surgery or neurogenic bladder. All patient should have clear urine analysis. Urodynamic studies were carried out in all patients. All patients underwent cather free uroflowmetry, measurements of postvoid residual urine, urodynamic pressure‐flow studies, the maximal flow rate and the maximum cystometric capacity. Urodynamic methods and definitions used were as described by the International Continence Society. The OABSS and urodynamic parameters were compared

One hundred twenty five women who complained of OAB symptoms, with a total OABSS score ≥ 3, were included. OABSS frequency and Nocturia were associated with each other (P = 0.001) and were each associated with urgency (P = 0.001, P = 0.001), neither frequency nor nocturia were associated with urgency incontinence. Urgency was associated with Urge incontinence (P < 0.001). Detrusor overactivity was associated with the total OABSS score.

Our results show that the noninvasive total OABSS was a strong predictor of detrusor over-activity. Thus we can predict the results  of Urodynamic studies and avoid its limitations.This can help in early diagnosis. There are limitations to our study. It is a retrospective study and the patients sample analyzed were small and may not be representative of the general population of OAB cases.

The overactive bladder symptom score has a good correlation with the urodynamic parameters and could be a useful tool to diagnose OAB . The more sever overactive bladder score the more the tendency to have a smaller bladder capacity and a higher incidence of detrusor over-activity.