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Nocturia, nocturnal polyuria and secondary nocturnal voiding
1Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, Croydon, South London.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|February 12, 2000
Summary
Waking to urinate more than once nightly may indicate nocturia or nocturnal polyuria, not always bladder issues. Accurate diagnosis through charting is key for effective treatment.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Nephrology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Nocturnal voiding frequency, defined as waking to urinate more than once per night, is a common complaint.
- While often attributed to bladder issues, other causes exist, necessitating a broader diagnostic approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate between nocturia (bladder-related), nocturnal polyuria (cardiac-related), and secondary nocturnal voiding (non-bladder causes).
- To emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis for effective treatment of nighttime urination frequency.
Main Methods:
- Review of working definitions, prevalence, and causes of nocturia, nocturnal polyuria, and secondary nocturnal voiding.
- Highlighting the utility of frequency volume charts and secondary cause assessments in diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Bladder problems are not the sole cause of increased nighttime urination.
- Effective treatment hinges on identifying the correct underlying cause(s).
Conclusions:
- Frequency volume charting is crucial for diagnosing the cause of nocturnal voiding.
- Anticholinergic medications are not universally effective; diagnosis guides appropriate interventions for successful outcomes.