Prevalence of nocturia in a Korean population aged 40 to 89 years

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of nocturia in Korea, to examine the relationship between nocturia and demographic variables, and to determine the impact of nocturia on daily living. Methods: A national telephone survey using quota sampling methods was conducted in Korea. The clinically validated computer-assisted telephone interview approach was used for the survey. Results: Of 2005 subjects (1,005 women and 1,000 men) interviewed, 33.5% reported voiding once per night and 48.2% twice or more per night. Nocturia increased with age among both genders and was more common among young women than young men. In all subjects, multivariate analysis indicated that female gender, older age and an overweight condition were independent risk factors. Body mass index was associated with an increased likelihood of nocturia in male but not in female subjects. In female subjects, the likelihood of at least one night-time void was related to delivery number (odds ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.32). An impact of nocturia on daily life was reported by 14.6% of subjects and only 3.8% (4.0% of men and 3.7% of women) sought medical care. Commonly reported reasons for not seeking medical care were the belief that nocturia is a normal consequence of aging or is not a disease (92.8% of subjects reporting an impact of nocturia on daily life). Conclusions: Although nocturia is highly prevalent in the Korean population, it has only a minor impact on daily living, and few individuals seek medical care. Our study provides a valuable insight into the need for tailored nocturia education addressed to the population who view the condition as trivial.

The Prevalence and Causes of Nocturia

“…Voiding at least once nightly tended to be reported more frequently in younger women than in younger men (20.4% to 43.9% and 11% to 35.2%, respectively), but was equally common or more so in men in older age groups. 3,12,26,31,39 In particular Tikkinen et al observed that young women (18 to 29 years old) are more than 10 times more likely to have nocturia than young men (prevalence ratio 11.5) in the Finnish population studied. 31 However, some studies report a similar rate of nocturia in men and women across all age groups.…”

Correlates for nocturia: A review of epidemiological studies

“…[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]78,79 Many cross-sectional studies after the millennium have shown an independent association of older age with nocturia after multivariate analysis.…”

“…With regard to sex difference, there are three different findings for the prevalence of nocturia: (i) it is equal in both sexes; 14,17,20,21,26,79 (ii) it is higher in women; 15,22,23,33 and (iii) it is higher in men. 13,16,27 Tikkinen et al reported that women younger than 50 years had more nocturia than men of the same age, but that the prevalence of nocturia increased twice as rapidly in men as among women with aging.…”

“…12,[22][23][24]27,38,39,[48][49][50]100 All of these studies assessed obesity using BMI, but none of them investigated the relationship between nocturia and central obesity, which is an essential component of metabolic syndrome. Some of these studies showed sex differences in the impact of obesity on the prevalence of nocturia.…”

“…Some of these studies showed sex differences in the impact of obesity on the prevalence of nocturia. 23,27,38,39,49 Most studies concluded that women have a closer relationship between nocturia and a larger BMI than men, although one study carried out in Korea reported that BMI was associated with nocturia only in men. 23 One report consisting of 553 gynecological patients showed no association between nocturia and BMI.…”