OAB
Medical abbreviation · Nephrology & Urology
| Stands for | Overactive bladder |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
OAB stands for Overactive bladder, a nephrology & urology abbreviation.
Symptom syndrome of urinary urgency, usually with frequency and nighttime urination, with or without urge incontinence, in the absence of infection or other obvious disease. Treatment escalates from bladder training and fluid management to antimuscarinic or beta-3 agonist drugs, Botox injections and nerve stimulation.
Example: OAB wet, 10 voids daily with 3 urge leaks; start mirabegron 25 mg after bladder diary.
Usage notes
The definition comes from the International Continence Society. Antimuscarinic drugs with strong anticholinergic effects have been linked with cognitive decline in older adults, so beta-3 agonists such as mirabegron and vibegron are often preferred. "OAB wet" means urgency incontinence is present, "OAB dry" means it is not.
Related abbreviations
More nephrology & urology abbreviations
- IgAN – IgA nephropathy
- KDIGO – Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes
- Kt/V – Dialysis adequacy index (urea clearance times time over volume)
- LUTS – Lower urinary tract symptoms
- MCD – Minimal change disease
- NS – Nephrotic syndrome
- PCa – Prostate cancer
- PCN – Percutaneous nephrostomy
- PCNL – Percutaneous nephrolithotomy
- PD – Peritoneal dialysis
- PE – Premature ejaculation
- PKD – Polycystic kidney disease
See all 71 nephrology & urology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.