title: The fluctuation of nocturia in men with lower urinary tract symptoms allocated to placebo during a 12-month randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determined the fluctuation of nocturia in a 12-month period in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men with lower urinary tract symptoms were allocated to the placebo arm of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Studies Program Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Study. Reported nocturia frequency using the American Urological Association Symptom Index was collected at 6 time points (2, 4, 13, 26, 39 and 52 weeks). Repeat measurements of nocturia during a 1-year period were analyzed using a generalized mixed linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 305 men allocated to the placebo group 256 participants (84%) gave answers for all 6 time points. In the entire sample the mean nocturia count did not significantly vary from baseline (week 2) after adjusting for covariates (p = 0.542). However, there was considerable fluctuation in nocturia during 1 year. Of the 93 men with 3 or 4 episodes at baseline 47% had improvement and 12% had worsening at 1 year. Of the 184 men who reported 2 or greater nocturia episodes at baseline 15% reported 0 or 1 at 52 weeks. Depending on the case definition during followup the probability of nocturia progression varied between 8% and 54% while nocturia regression varied between 2% and 33%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Using repeat questionnaire based assessments we observed considerable fluctuation in nocturia. However, overall there was no significant increase in prevalence in a 1-year period. These findings may be reassuring to providers and patients who elect to delay interventions for nocturia.
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: camille.vaughan@emory.edu.
authors: Camille P
authors: CP
authors: Vaughan
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Division of General Medicine and Geriatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Theodore M
authors: TM
authors: Johnson
authors: Hjelt Institute, Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Jari
authors: J
authors: Haukka
authors: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Imperial College London and Department of Urogynaecology, St. Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
authors: Rufus
authors: R
authors: Cartwright
authors: Southeast Permanente Medical Group, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors: Marion E
authors: ME
authors: Howard
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs, Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, Perry Point, Maryland.
authors: Karen M
authors: KM
authors: Jones
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Alayne D
authors: AD
authors: Markland
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Patricia S
authors: PS
authors: Goode
authors: Department of Veterans Affairs Birmingham/Atlanta Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, and Atlanta, Georgia; Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics, and Palliative Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.
authors: Kathryn L
authors: KL
authors: Burgio
authors: Department of Urology, Helsinki University Central Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Kari A O
authors: KA
authors: Tikkinen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053158:Nocturia / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: United States Department of Veterans Affairs; lower urinary tract symptoms; nocturia; prostate; prostatic hyperplasia