The prevalence and risk factors of nocturia for males participating in a prostate examination survey

Abstract

Purpose: Elderly men are often troubled by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), including frequency, urgency, incontinence and nocturia. Especially, nocturia is one of the frequently complained about urologic symptoms and this can be combined with sleep disorders. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors for nocturia in males who participated in a prostate examination survey. Materials and Methods: A total of 7,299 men participated in a prostate examination survey from March 2003 to December 2006; these men were given an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and they underwent transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate. The prevalence of nocturia and its associated factors, which included age, the IPSS severity, the prostate volume and the place of residence, were evaluated. Results: Among the men who were evaluated, 23.4% reported voiding once per night and 68% reported voiding twice or more per night. The severe IPSS group revealed a significantly higher nocturia score compared to the mild and moderate IPSS group. While the nocturia score and the other LUTS score increased significantly with age, only the nocturia score increased significantly with age in each of the IPSS severity groups. The nocturia score increased significantly with a prostate volume ≥30g. Men living in Seoul showed a significantly lower nocturia score than that for men living in other areas. Multiple logistic regression analysis also indicated that an older age, a severe IPSS score, the country of residence were the independent risk factors. Multiple regression analysis revealed the nocturia score to have the highest correlation with the quality of life. Conclusions: For Korean males, the prevalence of nocturia ≥2 is 68% and the incidence of nocturia increased significantly according to age, the IPSS severity, the prostate volume and the place of residence.