Solifenacin may improve sleep quality in patients with overactive bladder and sleep disturbance

To examine the effect of solifenacin for not only overactive bladder symptoms but also sleep disturbance. Nocturia and urgency are independent factors for sleep disturbance.

Fifteen male patients with overactive bladder symptoms and sleep disturbance were enrolled in this study. The overactive bladder symptoms score (OABSS) and Athens insomnia scale (AIS) were used as a subjective questionnaire for overactive bladder symptoms and insomnia. The Actiwatch-16 (Mini-Mitter-Respironics, Inc., Bend, OR) was used as an objective measurement tool for insomnia. Total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, wake-after-sleep onset, and number of awakenings were measured by the Actiwatch. We evaluated the changes of each parameter before and 8 weeks after the administration of solifenacin. Statistical comparisons before and after the administration were made using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. To examine the relation between OABSS and AIS, Spearman's testing was used for correlations between independent variables and P<.05 was considered statistically significant.

Total OABSS and total AIS were significantly improved after administration of solifenacin. The categories of urgency and nocturia in OABSS and the categories of awakening during the night and sleep quality in AIS were also significantly improved. The Actiwatch study showed that total sleep time and sleep efficiency were significantly improved. The decrease of AIS was significantly correlated with the decrease of urgency (ρ=0.635, P=.0175) but not with nocturia.

The treatment of urgency by solifenacin may improve not only overactive bladder symptoms but also sleep disturbance.