Nocturia in relation to sleep, somatic diseases and medical treatment in the elderly

Abstract

Objective: To assess the influence of somatic diseases, symptoms and medication on nocturnal micturition in an elderly population.

Subjects and methods: All 10 216 members of the pensioners' association in two Swedish counties were asked to participate in a questionnaire survey. The questions concerned their general state of health, occurrence of somatic diseases and symptoms, number of voiding episodes per night, and the use of drugs.

Results: There were 6143 evaluable questionnaires, of which 39.5% were from men. The mean (sd) age of the men and women participating were 73.0 (6.0) and 72.6 (6.7) years, respectively. In a multivariate logistic model, significant independent correlates of having > or = 3 nocturnal voids (vs < or = 2 voids) were: being 70-79 years vs < 70 years (odds ratio, OR, 1.7, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.3-2.2), being > or = 80 years old vs < 70 years (OR, 1.9, CI, 1.3-2.5) and poor sleep vs good sleep (OR, 2.6, CI, 2.1-3.2), sequelae after stroke (OR, 2.0, CI, 1.1-3.6), irregular heart beats (OR, 1.6, CI, 1.2-2.1) and diabetes (OR, 1.5, CI, 1.1-2.3). Sex, spasmodic chest pain and snoring were all deleted by the logistic model.

Conclusion: Increasing age, poor sleep, irregular heart beats, diabetes and stroke are associated with an increase in nocturnal micturition in the elderly.