Bladder diaries are a key tool in evaluating overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. This retrospective study compares compliance and variability between electronic and paper bladder diaries over different collection periods: a 3-day continuous collection versus a 7-day partially continuous collection.

A total of 38 patients diagnosed with OAB were divided into four groups based on bladder diary format (electronic vs. paper) and collection duration (3-day continuous vs. 7-day partially continuous). The electronic bladder diary was recorded using the iUFlow mobile application, while the paper diary was completed using the Continence Foundation of Australia bladder diary template. Primary outcomes included patient demographics, compliance (defined as ≥80% diary completion), and variability in voiding patterns across the collection period. Variability was assessed by fluctuations in daily voiding frequency and volume.

The mean age of participants was 56.8 years (range: 33–78). Compliance was higher in the electronic diary groups compared to the paper groups (3-day: 91.2% vs. 76.5%, p=0.03; 7-day: 83.6% vs. 61.4%, p=0.02). Compliance declined in the 7-day groups, particularly for paper diaries. However, the electronic diaries exhibited greater variability in recorded voiding frequency and volume, with inconsistent data entries in 42% of cases. Paper diaries, while more complete, demonstrated less day-to-day fluctuation but had more missing data points (p<0.05). Compliance was significantly worse in older patients (>60 years, p=0.01), particularly in the 7-day paper diary group. Conversely, younger patients (<40 years) demonstrated high compliance, even with the 7-day diary (p=0.03). Patient-reported ease of use was higher in the electronic diary groups (mean score: 8.1/10 vs. 6.5/10, p=0.03).

Electronic bladder diaries improve compliance but introduce greater variability in recorded data, suggesting potential inconsistencies in patient-reported entries. Compliance declines with longer collection periods, especially in older adults, whereas younger patients show higher adherence even with extended diary durations. These findings highlight the trade-offs between diary formats, collection strategies, and patient age in OAB assessment.