What ' s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) can be a risk factor for nocturia, although whether the relationship between nocturia and SAS changes according to age remains to be addressed.SAS has a modest impact on nocturia frequency and the prevalence of pathological nocturia in young adults and middle-aged men. However, SAS may not be a risk factor for nocturia in the elderly, and age-related urinary diseases and voiding dysfunctions could over-ride the infl uence of SAS on nocturia in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE• To assess the association between nocturia and sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) according to age, as well as to determine the factors related to nocturia.
PATIENTS AND METHODS• A total of 1757 men who had been referred to a sleep laboratory underwent polysomnography.• Nocturia frequency was assessed using a questionnaire, and pathological nocturia was defi ned as the need to void two or more times per night.• The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were applied to all study subjects.
RESULTS• Nocturia frequency was signifi cantly correlated with age ( r = 0.405, P < 0.001) and the apnoea -hypopnoea index (AHI) ( r = 0.065, P < 0.01).• In those men aged < 65 years, signifi cant correlations were found between nocturic frequency and age, AHI, BDI and PSQI.• Multiple regression analysis showed that age ( β = 0.303, P < 0.001), AHI ( β = 0.107 P < 0.001) and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH; β = 0.069, P < 0.01) were associated with nocturia, and that the presence of pathological nocturia was predicted by BPH (odds ratio [ OR ] , 2.77; P < 0.01), age (OR, 1.09; P < 0.001) and AHI (OR, 1.02; P < 0.001).• However, in men aged > 65 years, nocturia frequency was signifi cantly associated with BDI and PSQI, although no relationship was found between nocturia frequency and SAS parameters.• BPH was more frequently observed in elderly men with pathological nocturia than in those without pathological nocturia (OR, 2.18; P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS• In the elderly, SAS may not be a risk factor for nocturia.• Age-related urinary diseases and voiding dysfunction may over-ride the infl uence of SAS.
KEYWORDSageing , nocturia , sleep apnoea syndrome Study Type -Symptom prevalence (cohort) Level of Evidence 2b