Urinary retention and the lunisolar cycle: is it a lunatic phenomenon?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether a relation between urinary retention and temporal rhythms exists.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of patients presenting over three years.


METHODS
Urology departments in two hospitals.


METHODS
815 Patients presenting as emergency admissions with urinary retention and requiring immediate decompression of the bladder.


METHODS
Calendar date of each admission to determine circadian, monthly, and seasonal periodicity.


RESULTS
No association was found between urinary retention and circadian, monthly, or seasonal rhythms. A significantly higher (p less than 0.001) incidence of urinary retention was observed during the new moon in comparison with other phases of the lunar cycle.


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary retention is periodic in nature. This should be considered when the workload of a specialist urological department is organised.
Payne
S R
SR
Department of Urology, St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth.
Deardon
D J
DJ
Abercrombie
G F
GF
Carlson
G L
GL
D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010507:Periodicity; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology*