Visual impairment, sleep and nocturia in the elderly

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Gerontology
• Urology

Background:

• Nocturia, or frequent nighttime urination, significantly impacts the quality of life for elderly individuals.
• The relationship between visual impairment and nocturia in older populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between visual impairment and nocturia in a large cohort of elderly men and women.
• To identify risk factors for nocturia, including visual status, in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was administered to 10,216 elderly subjects.
• Data collected included self-reported visual impairment and the frequency of nocturnal micturition episodes.
• Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent correlates of nocturia.

Main Results:

• Visual impairment was reported by 20.9% of men and 32.9% of women, increasing with age.
• Individuals with visual impairment had 1.7 to 1.9 times higher odds of experiencing three or more nocturnal urination episodes.
• Poor vision was an independent predictor of nocturia in both men (OR 1.8) and women (OR 1.6), alongside age and poor sleep quality.

Conclusions:

• Visual impairment is a significant independent risk factor for nocturia in elderly men and women.
• Addressing visual impairment may be a potential strategy to reduce nocturia and improve sleep quality in older adults.