Efficacy and Safety of Propiverine Hydrochloride for Overactive Bladder in Adult: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of propiverine for treating overactive bladder (OAB) in adult. A literature review was performed to identify all published randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCT) of propiverine for the treatment of OAB. The search included the following databases: PUBMED and EMBASE. The reference lists of retrieved studies were also investigated. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Ten publications involving nine different RCTs were used in the analysis. We found that propiverine was effective in treating OAB in our meta-analysis. The decrease in number of micturitions/24 h (P < 0.00001, the mean decrease was from 1.80 to 2.57) indicated that propiverine was more effective than the placebo. Propiverine also decrease the number of urgency, urgency incontinence, and nocturia and increase urine volume. However, the incidence of difficulty in voiding was higher with propiverine therapy compared with the placebo (P = 0.05, the mean percentage range from 0.34 to 4.93 %). The decrease of total international prostate symptom score (IPSS) (P < 0.0001, the mean decrease was from 12.5 to 16.1) indicated that propiverine add a1-adrenoceptor antagonist was more effective in decreasing the lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS). The combination therapy also decreases the voiding symptom and storage symptom scores and increases maximum flow rate. This meta-analysis shows that propiverine is a safe and effective treatment for OAB. The major adverse event associated with propiverine treatment was difficulty in voiding. Propiverine add a1-adrenoceptor antagonist was more effective in terms of decreasing difficulty in voiding.