Cross-sectional study of nocturia in both sexes: Analysis of a voluntary health screening project

Objectives. To assess the prevalence of nocturia and its impact on the qual ity of life in both sexes by analyzing almost 2500 individuals participatin g in a health survey. Methods. During a 12-month period, we included an incontinence questionnair e, which was largely based on the Bristol female lower urinary tract sympto ms questionnaire, in the voluntary health examinations in the area of Vienn a, In parallel, we recorded the medical history, concurrent medical therapy , physical examination findings, sociodemographic parameters, and blood lab oratory study results. Results, The data of 1247 women (age 49.8 +/- 13.5 years) and 1221 men (age 48.5 +/- 11.9 years) were analyzed. The percentage of individuals with noc turia of two or more times increased constantly with age: less than 30 year s, 3.1% of women and 3.4% of men; 30 to 59 years, 7.2% of women and 5.7% of men; and 60 years old or older, 26.7% of women and 32.4% of men. Age-adjus ted extrapolation to the general population (older than 20 years) currently living in Austria yielded that 10.8% of men and 11.8% of women have noctur ia of two or more times. Overall, 66.9% of women and 62.2% of men reported a negative impact of nocturia on their quality of life. The correlation was close between the degree of nocturia with the quality-of-life impairment i n both sexes. Several voiding symptoms correlated significantly (P < 0.001) with nocturia. Conclusions. Nocturia is almost equally present in both sexes, and the inci dence and severity increase constantly from early adolescence to senescence . Approximately 10% of the general population (older than 20 years) have no cturia of two or more times, which impairs the quality of life in two third s. UROLOGY 56: 71-75, 2000. (C) 2000, Elsevier Science Inc.