Comparison of efficacy and safety of mirabegron and vibegron in the treatment of Overactive Bladder (OAB) in older women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background After the introduction of anticholinergic drugs for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), the discovery of β-adrenergic agonists has helped reduce the side effects associated with the former. Currently, the two available medications, mirabegron and vibegron, are β-adrenergic agonists. However, clinical practitioners are still faced with the dilemma of which drug to choose. Objective To analyze and compare the efficacy and adverse effects of the two medications. Methods A literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials using mirabegron and vibegron for the treatment of OAB. Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase were searched. The search cutoff date was July 25 2024. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed using standardized methods. A meta-analysis was then conducted using RevMan software and a random-effects model, with studies weighted according to sample size and variance. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I² statistic. All statistical analyses were performed using RevMan, and results were presented as effect sizes (e.g., mean difference or risk ratio). Results Three randomized controlled trials compared the safety and efficacy of mirabegron and vibegron head-to-head, involving 368 patients. The trials, each lasting 8 or 12 weeks. The trials compared the changes in various indices of the OABSS (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) between the two drugs. The statistical methods used in the analysis included Mean Difference (MD), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), p-value, and I² statistic. For OABSS: MD = 0.38, 95% CI = − 0.19 to 0.95, p = 0.28, I² = 21%; for Q1: MD = 0.08, 95% CI = − 0.01 to 0.26, p = 0.31, I² = 4%; for Q2: MD = 0.08, 95% CI = − 0.21 to 0.37, p = 0.67, I² = 0%; for Q3: MD = 0.05, 95% CI = − 0.45 to 0.56, p = 0.90, I² = 0%; for Q4: MD = − 0.21, 95% CI = − 0.68 to 0.27, p = 0.35, I² = 0%. The relative risk (RR) of adverse effects between the two drugs was: RR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.34, p = 0.27, I² = 25%; for constipation: RR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.37 to 1.43, p = 0.27, I² = 25%; and for dry mouth: RR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.42 to 2.30, p = 0.78, I² = 0%. Conclusion There appears to be no statistically significant difference in efficacy and safety between mirabegron and vibegron for OAB patients. Further high-quality prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.