Snoring--a common cause of voiding disturbance in elderly men

Obstructive sleep apnea in a Danish population of men and women aged 60-80 years with nocturia

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The aim of the present study was in a case-control design to evaluate the association between nocturia and obstructive sleep apnea, in men and women who had nocturia ≥ 2 per night (nocturics) compared to those without nocturia (controls).

METHODS

Participants were randomly selected among respondents in a population study of 4000 elderly individuals. Nocturia was assessed using the validated Nocturia, Nocturnal Enuresis, and Sleep-interruption Questionnaire (NNES-Q). Nocturia (≥ 2 voids/night) or control (< 1 void/night) status was assessed by a 3-day frequency volume chart (FVC). Furthermore, all participants completed an overnight ambulatory polygraphic recording to identify obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

RESULTS

Of 1111 eligible individuals, a total of 75 nocturics and 75 controls (13.5%) were included. Overall, the prevalence and severity of OSA among nocturics and controls was not significantly different. In a sub-analysis we found that 22 nocturics with OSA (69%) had nocturnal polyuria. This led to a significantly increased risk of having OSA (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.1-7.3, p < 0.05) when having nocturnal polyuria compared to other pathophysiological causes of nocturia (polyuria, low bladder capacity, a combination of nocturnal polyuria/low bladder capacity, and neither nocturnal polyuria/low bladder capacity).

CONCLUSIONS

Nocturia twice or more was not significantly associated with OSA. However, nocturics with nocturnal polyuria had a significantly higher risk of having OSA than nocturics with other pathophysiologies.

Nocturia in sleep-disordered breathing

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Nocturia is a common complaint in sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but there is no study demonstrating the prevalence and frequency of nocturnal urination in a large number of SDB patients. To determine the prevalence and frequency of nocturnal urination among patients with SDB of different severities and to discover the factors related to nocturia.

METHOD

A retrospective chart review was conducted among 1970 SDB patients. Nocturia was assessed using a standard questionnaire. Four groups of SDB patients were compared with regard to frequency of nocturnal urination and additional demographic, clinical, and polysomnographic (PSG) variables, by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) post-hoc comparisons. Partial correlation analysis was performed to detect the relationships between frequency of nocturnal urination and PSG and demographic variables. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the independent predictors of nocturia.

RESULTS

Significant correlations were found between the frequency of nocturnal urination and mean age, body mass index (BMI), respiratory disturbance index (RDI), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), respiratory effort index (REI) and lowest oxygen saturation. The frequency of nocturnal urination showed significant differences between four groups of individuals with SDB (P<0.001). Nocturnal urination of more than three episodes per night was reported significantly more by severe SDB patients (P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Age, BMI, hypertension (HT), AHI, and REI were found to be significantly associated with nocturia.

Sleep-disordered breathing and nocturia in older adults

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and nocturia episodes in community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling older adults (N=72) recruited from independent living facilities and adult learning centers in Atlanta, Georgia.

MEASUREMENTS

Three-day voiding diary, ambulatory sleep recording, focused physical examination, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and Geriatric Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight of the 72 subjects completed the study. The mean age+/-standard deviation was 77.7+/-6.7; 44 (76%) were female. Of the 58 subjects, 26 (45%) had an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of less than 10 per hour of sleep, 21 (36%) had an AHI between 10 and 24 per hour sleep, and 11 (19%) had an AHI of 25 or higher per hour of sleep. The mean nocturia episodes were 1.7+/-1.1, 1.6+/-0.9, and 2.6+/-1.4 for subjects in these groups, respectively (F=3.82; P=.028). Those with an AHI of 25 or higher had more nocturia episodes, higher mean arterial blood pressure, and higher body mass index than those with a lower AHI.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that older adults with severe SDB have a greater number of nocturia episodes. These findings underscore the importance of considering SDB as a differential diagnosis in the evaluation of older patients with nocturia.

Nocturia: when is it not related to overactive bladder?

This article reviews the different nonurologic causes of nocturia. It also discusses the diagnostic algorithms necessary to identify specific factors underlying a patient's symptoms.

Snoring as a cause of nocturia in men with lower urinary tract symptoms

OBJECTIVES

Snoring increases with increasing age and body mass, and repeated periods of hypoxia cause nocturnal polyuria. Accordingly, we examined the occurrence of snoring problems in patients scheduled for transurethral prostatic resection.

METHODS

Of 171 men scheduled for TUR-P, 41 were excluded due to cardiac disease, diabetes, or prostatic malignancy. Of the remaining 130 patients, 12% were troubled by snoring that disturbed their sleep. The severity of their snoring was evaluated by questionnaires, micturition charts, and determination of nocturnal capillary oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and pulse rate. Plasma levels of cortisol, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured in the morning and at 2 p.m. Fifteen non-snoring patients also scheduled for TUR-P served as controls.

RESULTS

Compared to controls, the snoring patients had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI), voided more frequently, and produced more urine at night. They also had a significantly larger number of hypoxic episodes at night, which, along with low SaO(2) levels, correlated with the nocturnal diuresis. Snorers did not differ significantly from controls in regard to excretion of cortisol and AVP, but they did have higher plasma levels of ANP.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend that elderly obese men with urgency at night be questioned about snoring, and that micturition frequency and volume charts be completed before deciding to operate.

Nocturia: a problem that disrupts sleep and predicts obstructive sleep apnea

Nocturia frequently is considered a benign problem that results from aging. Nocturia can result from poorly controlled diabetes, congestive heart failure, or urinary dysfunction. Also a symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), nocturia is a significant source of sleep disruption that may result in excessive daytime sleepiness. This article examines variables that contribute to nocturia, its effect on health, and the physiological mechanisms in OSA that evoke nocturia. Evaluation requires differentiation of the underlying causes that result in either increased frequency or increased nocturnal urine production, including symptoms of OSA.

Can urodynamic assessment of outflow obstruction predict outcome from watchful waiting?--A four-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

One of the most common "treatment" alternatives in suspected outflow obstruction due to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) is watchful waiting (WW). The aim of this study was to see whether there were any differences in outcome between patients with slight, moderate or severe obstruction due to BOO as classified by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and urodynamics.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty-seven men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and suspected BOO were included. All of the patients were investigated by a routine investigation schedule, including TRUS and urodynamics with pressure-flow measurement (pQS) at baseline. Patients with cancer in the urinary tract, prostatitis, history of detrusor hyperreflexia (peripheral or central diseases or trauma to the nervous system affecting the bladder) and serious systemic diseases were excluded. Patients were examined at baseline, then checked again after 1 year and 4 years. Patients who did not want to continue with WW were listed as treatment failures.

RESULTS

At baseline, 43.2% of the patients were urodynamically severely obstructed and 32.3% were moderately obstructed. Thirty-five per cent of the patients were found to have previously unknown detrusor hyperactivity/overactivity. The prevalence of detrusor hyperactivity/overactivity increased with BOO. After 1 year, IPSS had decreased at unchanged Qmax and postresidual volume. These findings persisted at 4 years. The failure rate increased in the more obstructed patients and was significantly higher with more severe obstruction. Complications were found in 13.5%, with no significant differences between patients with minor BOO [Detrusor Adjusted Mean PURR Factor (DAMPF) scale <42], moderate BOO (DAMPF 42-65) and severe BOO (DAMPF >65).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with severe BOO, the LUTS and failure rate increase over time. The percentage of patients with detrusor hyperactivity/overactivity was higher in the severely obstructed group. By including full urodynamics when investigating patients with BOO, it seems possible to predict the failure rate according to the patients' obstruction grade. This gives an opportunity to treat the patient with minimal invasion, and to give the individual patient a more precise prognosis if WW is preferred.

Nocturia, nocturnal polyuria and secondary nocturnal voiding

Getting up once to the toilet at night is normal. Getting up more than once may be abnormal. Potential causes include: nocturia, which is bladder related; nocturnal polyuria, which is cardiac in origin; and being awake for a variety of reasons that are not linked to the bladder. Bladder problems, therefore, are not always the reason for frequency in micturition at night and treatment will only be effective if the correct cause and/or causes are identified. The most useful investigation to help with diagnosis is a frequency volume chart linked to an assessment identifying causes of secondary nocturnal voiding and nocturnal polyuria. Getting up to the toilet at night will not always be successfully treated by anticholinergics. Charting is the key to diagnosis, appropriate interventions and successful outcomes. This article will focus on working definitions, prevalence, causes, investigations and treatment options for nocturia, nocturnal polyuria and secondary nocturnal voiding.