OBJECTIVE: To determine characteristics related to lost productivity in working adults with overactive bladder (OAB) using data from a large US multicenter trial. METHODS: Baseline data were obtained from 2770 participants in the Multicenter Assessment of Transdermal Therapy in Overactive Bladder with Oxybutynin (MATRIX). Productivity was assessed using the Work Productivity Questionnaire (WPQ), a modified version of the Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) which captures physical, mental (concentration), time (interruptions and adherence to a schedule), and output (ability to handle workload) domains related to work productivity. Additional questions on demographics, prior OAB treatment, and daily pad use were asked. A WPQ Index was computed to estimate productivity impairment compared to healthy individuals. Characteristics related to productivity loss were determined using group comparisons (t-test). RESULTS: Approximately half (52.7%) of participants were of working age (18-64 years), and 44.9% were employed. The majority were female (92.0%) and white (81.2%). Overall, working participants were approximately 7.9% less productive than healthy individuals. Group comparisons revealed that females experienced greater physical limitations than males (p<0.05) but had similar time, mental, and output scores. Age younger than 65 was associated with greater impairments of time, mental, and output domains (p<0.05 for all). Minorities (African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians) experienced significantly less productivity than whites across all categories with the exception that African Americans reported similar time impairments to whites. Productivity scores were inversely related to daily pad use (those using 1- or 2- experiencing higher scores than those using 3 or more), and did not differ between treatment naïve and those previously treated (p>0.05 for all domains). CONCLUSIONS: OAB causes job interruptions, difficulties in adhering to a schedule, physical limitations, impaired concentration, and reduced ability to handle workload. Females with OAB experience more physical limitations than males, and minorities generally experience greater productivity impairments than whites.