Urinary frequency in community-dwelling women: what is normal?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to assess urinary frequency in community-dwelling women.


METHODS
Voiding habits were assessed in 4061 women 25-84 years of age using survey responses from the Epidemiology of Prolapse and Incontinence Questionnaire. Bother related to daytime and nighttime frequency was assessed with 100-mm visual analog scales and compared using t tests and analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Median daytime frequency was every 3-4 hours. Urinary frequency every 2 hours or more occurred in 27% and was more bothersome than every 3-4 hours or less (51.7 +/- 30.1 mm vs 23.6 +/- 23.7 mm; P < .001). Nocturia was reported in 72%, whereas 33% had 2 or more voids per night. Bother increased with increasing nighttime frequency (27.3 +/- 26.3 for 1 time vs 57.3 +/- 28.5 for > or = 2 times; P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Bothersome urinary frequency is common and occurs when frequency is at least every 2 hours by day and more than once per night.
Lukacz
Emily S
ES
Division of Women's Pelvic Medicine, Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Whitcomb
Emily L
EL
Lawrence
Jean M
JM
Nager
Charles W
CW
Luber
Karl M
KM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D053207:Diurnal Enuresis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D053158:Nocturia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014554:Urination; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data