Nocturia and disturbed sleep in the elderly.
BACKGROUND
Nocturnal urination (nocturia) is such a commonplace occurrence in the lives of many older adults that it is frequently overlooked as a potential cause of sleep disturbance.


METHODS
We examined the prevalence of nocturia and examined its role in self-reported insomnia and poor sleep quality in a survey of 1424 elderly individuals, ages 55-84. Data were derived from a 2003 National Sleep Foundation telephone poll conducted in a representative sample of the United States population who underwent a 20-min structured telephone interview. Nocturia was not a focus of the survey, but data collected relevant to this topic allowed examination of relevant associations with sleep.


RESULTS
When inquired about in a checklist format, nocturia was listed as a self-perceived cause of nocturnal sleep "every night or almost every night" by 53% of the sample, which was over four times as frequently as the next most often cited cause of poor sleep, pain (12%). In multivariate logistic models, nocturia was an independent predictor both of self-reported insomnia (75% increased risk) and reduced sleep quality (71% increased risk), along with female gender and other medical and psychiatric conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Nocturia is a frequently overlooked cause of poor sleep in the elderly and may warrant targeted interventions.
Bliwise
Donald L
DL
Program in Sleep, Aging and Chronobiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Wesley Woods Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA. dbliwis@emory.edu
Foley
Daniel J
DJ
Vitiello
Michael V
MV
Ansari
Farzaneh Pour
FP
Ancoli-Israel
Sonia
S
Walsh
James K
JK
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053158:Nocturia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology