Nocturia

1. Introduction

The subject of nocturia has rightly received more and more attention when it became clear how much it can affect one's life.

Nocturia has been defined as the complaint of waking at night one or more times to void [1] x P. Van Kerrebroeck. Nocturia: current status and future perspectives. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 23 (2011) (376 - 385) . One nocturnal void is often considered within normal limits, particularly in the elderly, but even one nocturnal void can be experienced as bothersome by some. At least two nocturnal voids are, in general, considered as definitely lowering quality of life (QoL) [2] x K.A.O. Tikkinen, T.M. Johnson II, T.L.J. Tammela, et al.. Nocturia frequency, bother, and quality of life: how often is too often? A population-based study in Finland. Eur Urol 57 (2010) (488 - 498) . Nocturia is equally common in men and women, and although its prevalence increases with age [3] x U.G.H. Malmsten, U. Molander, R. Peeker, D.E. Irwin, I. Milsom. Urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms: a longitudinal population-based survey in men aged 45–103 years. Eur Urol 58 (2010) (149 - 156) , a significant proportion of younger people are also affected.

Nocturia can have different causes, such as high fluid intake, especially caffeinated drinks and alcohol; nocturnal polyuria; too small bladder capacity, as in overactive bladder; and incomplete bladder emptying. It can be one of the causes of sleep disturbance in such diseases as Parkinson and multiple sclerosis [4] x Gobbi C, Digesu G, Khullar V, El Neil S, Caccia G, Zecca C. Percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation as an effective treatment of refractory lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: preliminary data from a multicentre, prospective, open label trial. Mult Scler. In press. DOI:10.1177/1352458511414040. . A causative relation has been shown with sexual, physical, or emotional abuse [5] x C.L. Link, K.E. Lutfey, W.D. Steers, J.B. McKinlay. Is abuse causally related to urologic symptoms? Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey. Eur Urol 52 (2007) (397 - 406) .

Nocturia induces sleep fragmentation and may therefore lead to shortage of sleep problems. In older men it is considered the most frequent cause of disturbed sleep continuity.