The efficacy of alarm therapy versus desmopressin therapy in the treatment of primary mono-symptomatic nocturnal enuresis: a systematic review

Abstract

Seven studies found no statistical difference in nocturnal continence improvement between the two interventions at the point when treatment was stopped. Four studies had a significantly larger relapse rate of nocturnal enuresis with desmopressin compared with alarm therapy when the treatment was withdrawn. Two papers reported that those participating in the alarm therapy intervention of the trials had a higher attrition rate than the desmopressin intervention. The overall findings from the eight studies showed that long term alarm therapy was more effective in treating nocturnal enuresis than desmopressin therapy. The review found that families and children receiving the alarm therapy intervention require more support from health care professionals to comply with treatment than those receiving the desmopressin therapy. However, if nurse-led clinics can support families to persist with the alarm therapy intervention, they are more likely to experience longer term improvement in continence.

Common urological problems in children: primary nocturnal enuresis

“…27 Its effect is similar to the use of desmopressin. 28,29 However, its long-term success rate is significantly higher than that of desmopressin, with 68.8% of one study's patients who used enuresis alarms continuing to have dry nights, whereas only 46% of the desmopressin group did. 29 The ICCS recommends that the parent or caregiver attend the child each time the alarm rings to make sure the child does not just turn the alarm off to maximise the effect.…”

Family therapy and systemic interventions for child‐focused problems: the current evidence base

“…The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis, or bedwetting, is about 15 per cent in 6-year-olds and declines to 1 per cent among 18-year-olds (Mellon and Houts, 2017). Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials show family-based urine alarm programmes are an effective treatment for childhood nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting); are as effective as medication (desmopressin) at the end of treatment; and are more effective than medication in the long term, because many children relapse when they stop taking desmopressin (Glazener et al, 2009;Perrin et al, 2015). Family-based urine alarm programmes, if used over twelve to sixteen weeks, are effective in about 70 to 90 per cent of cases (Mellon and Houts, 2017).…”

Additional Use of Alarm Systems in Wakefulness in the Treatment of Mono-Symptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis

“…The results of OAB-q questionnaire survey: average score in-group А -2.3, in group В -1.9, patients with Nevertheless, in spite of long history of application 28 this method often does not bring to desired effect. Attempts to improve the schemes of alarm systems use are also being made nowadays 29,30,31,32,33 .…”