Nocturia Potentially Influences Maintenance of Sexual Function in Elderly Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

This study examined the relationship between bothersome symptoms of nocturia and erectile function.

Subjects comprised patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients were prospectively followed on treatment with the alpha-1 blocker naftopidil for 8 weeks. Patient backgrounds and efficacy of naftopidil associated with LUTS and sexual activity were evaluated.

The percentage of patients who identified nocturia as the most bothersome symptom was 30.2% (n = 135), representing the highest percentage among International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) items. The number of patients with nocturia as the most bothersome symptom plateaued at an IPSS for nocturia of two or three points. In contrast, the number of patients with slow stream as the most bothersome symptom increased with symptom severity according to IPSS for slow stream. Logistic regression analysis on association between nocturia and erectile function confirmed that the odds ratio was 1.41 (P < 0.05). Naftopidil showed excellent efficacy related to male LUTS, but International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF5) total score was almost unchanged. Among patients with nocturia improved by naftopidil, IIEF5 total score was significantly changed in the group with IPSS nocturia score ≤1 as compared to the group with IPSS nocturia score ≥2 per night (P = 0.038).

Nocturia the most bothersome symptom correlated with aging. Nocturia could associate erectile dysfunction, and keeping the frequency of nocturia at ≤1 episode might be meaningful for maintaining quality of life in elderly men.