Biochemical and body composition analysis of nocturia in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
Nocturia is a common symptom in the elderly, and various contributing factors have been suggested. Therefore, in order to investigate which factors are strongly related to occurrence of nocturia, we performed a suite of examinations.


METHODS
One hundred eighty volunteers were divided into three groups: a young adult control group (60 healthy persons without nocturia), an elderly control group (60 healthy persons with a low mean frequency of nocturnal urination, i.e., <once per night), and an elderly nocturia group (60 healthy persons with a high mean frequency of nocturnal urination, i.e., more than twice per night). Biochemistry tests, measurement of the osmotic pressure of plasma and urine, and body composition analysis were performed in three groups during the daytime and nighttime. In the elderly control group and the elderly nocturia group, measurement of blood pressure and recording of urinary frequency-volume charts were performed.


RESULTS
The features specific to the elderly nocturia group are as follows: (1) a decrease of the nighttime plasma melatonin level, (2) an increase of nighttime plasma catecholamine levels, (3) an increase of daytime and nighttime plasma natriuretic peptide levels, (4) an increase of blood pressure, (5) a decrease of daytime and nighttime urinary osmotic pressure, (6) an increase of total urine volume, and (7) an increase of the edema ratio before sleeping.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that sleep disturbance, hypertension, and excessive fluid intake are major factors contributing to an increased frequency of nocturnal urination (>twice per night) in the elderly.
Division of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. sugaya@med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp
Kimio
K
Sugaya
Saori
S
Nishijima
Masami
M
Oda
Tomoko
T
Owan
Minoru
M
Miyazato
Yoshihide
Y
Ogawa
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001823:Body Composition; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000097:blood; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides / Q000097:blood; D053158:Nocturia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009997:Osmotic Pressure; D012307:Risk Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D014554:Urination; D014563:Urodynamics; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D015415:Biomarkers; D002395:Catecholamines; D045265:Natriuretic Peptides; D008550:Melatonin