Prevalence and Risk Factors of Nocturia and Nocturia-Related Quality of Life in the Chinese Population

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors of nocturia and nocturia-related quality of life. METHODS: Age, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), alcohol abuse and smoking were analyzed using logistic analysis. Multiple linear-regression analysis was used to identify factors predicting the score on the Nocturia Quality of Life (N-QOL) questionnaire. RESULTS: 1,198 adults completed this study. 411 individuals (34.3%) answered that they arose for urination at least twice during the night. The incidence of nocturia increased with age from 8.6% in individuals younger than 40 to 67.7% in those older than 70. Hypertension [odds ratio (OR) 2.322; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.387-3.887] and diabetes (OR 2.298; 95% CI: 1.066-4.954) were possible risk factors for nocturia. In male individuals, BPH (OR 3.900; 95% CI: 1.890-8.049) was another risk factor. Gender was not found to be associated with nocturia. Increasing episodes of nocturia (regression coefficient: -2.564; 95% CI: -3.08 to -2.049) and decreasing total sleeping hours (regression coefficient: 1.738; 95% CI: 0.948-2.527) were independent factors predicting a significantly lower N-QOL score. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension, diabetes and BPH are associated with nocturia, suggesting that multiple approaches are needed when treating patients with nocturia. Nocturia has a significant impact on the nocturia-related quality of life when the patient has 2 or more episodes per night.