Nocturnal Enuresis in Older People: Where Is the Evidence and What Are the Gaps?

Primary enuresis in adults: pathogenesis, clinical course and modern approaches to treatment: A review

The review article presents current data on the epidemiology, classification, pathogenesis, risk factors, diagnosis, and features of the clinical course of primary enuresis in adults. The main methods of treatment of patients with primary enuresis are described in detail. It has been shown that in the treatment of this category of patients, the leading role is given to the use of a synthetic analogue of the antidiuretic hormone desmopressin. A detailed analysis of the pharmacological properties and clinical use of desmopressin in patients with primary enuresis is presented. The advantages of prescribing a sublingual form of desmopressin, which ensures its high efficiency and good tolerability of therapy.

The relative importance of different consequences of nocturnal enuresis among older women: A conjoint analysis experiment

INTRODUCTION

Adult nocturnal enuresis (NE) is an understudied and bothersome condition. Our objective was to conduct a conjoint analysis experiment to better understand the relative importance of NE consequences in older women.

METHODS

We developed a conjoint analysis survey that included four attributes related to NE (awakening at night, feeling rested in the morning, restricting fluid before bed, and wet perineal skin). We performed a prospective cross-sectional online study of women >62 years of age with NE using Sawtooth Software. Patients completed baseline questions, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-nocturia Quality of Life (ICIQ-NqoL), and the conjoint analysis experiment. Hierarchical Bayes random effects regression analysis was used to determine the relative importance of the four attributes.

RESULTS

A total of 200 women with a mean age of 71 years completed the study. The most common management of NE was diapers/pads (132/200). Approximately half of the participants experienced NE several times a week or nightly (101/200). The most important attribute was the frequency of being awakened at night (34, standard deviation [SD]: 16) and the frequency of feeling rested in the morning (32, SD: 15). Limiting drinking before bed (18, SD: 12) and wet groin skin (16, SD: 10) had significantly lower importance scores (p < 0.05). Age, sleeping with a partner in bed, body mass index, NE severity score, and the ICIQ-NqOL score were not significantly associated with any of the importance scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Older women with NE place significantly more importance on the frequency of awakening at night, and feeling rested in the morning and lesser importance on associated lifestyle or physical manifestations of NE.

A comprehensive review of adult enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a combined symptom of nocturia and urinary incontinence. In this review, we aim to summarize the current literature on NE in terms of its definition, diagnosis, and management. Recommended diagnostic evaluation of NE includes a focused history and physical examination, urinalysis, and when indicated, ultrasound examination, flow rate, urine volume chart, urodynamics, and cystoscopy. Therapeutic options include lifestyle modification and medications (i.e., desmopressin and anticholinergics).