Nocturnal incontinence in women: a hidden problem.
OBJECTIVE
We determined the prevalence of nocturnal incontinence and its association with other storage symptoms in a community population of women


METHODS
We mailed the validated self-reporting Bristol female lower urinary tract symptom questionnaire to all 2,641 women 19 years old or older registered at a family physician practice in a major British city and analyzed the results. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of nocturnal incontinence and its correlation with other storage symptoms.


RESULTS
A total of 2,075 completed questionnaires (80%) were returned. The overall prevalence of nocturnal incontinence was 5.8%. However, the majority of women had nocturnal incontinence only occasionally and only 1% had it more than a third of the time. The prevalence of nocturnal incontinence increased in a linear fashion with age (chi-square test for linear trend p <0.005). Of the women with nocturnal incontinence 69% considered it troublesome. The odds of nocturnal incontinence were significantly increased when urge and stress incontinence, incontinence with no obvious cause, urgency, straining and nocturia were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Nocturnal incontinence in women is more common than generally supposed and troublesome. The rate of nocturnal incontinence increases with coexisting storage symptoms.
Swithinbank
L V
LV
Urodynamic Unit and Department of Urology, Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, United Kingdom.
Donovan
J L
JL
Rogers
C A
CA
Abrams
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000453:epidemiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology