Trends and prevalence of nocturia among US adults, 2005-2016

Increased nocturia episodes can be a clinical marker of poor health status. The present study aimed to evaluate patterns and temporal trends in nocturia and sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates in the US population.

Participants, aged 20 years or older, were included in this repeated cross-sectional study. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2016 was used. Participants were asked "During the past 30 days, how many times per night did you most typically get up to urinate, from the time you went to bed at night until the time you got up in the morning?". Individuals were categorized as either ≥ 1 nocturia episode or ≥ 2 nocturia episodes per night.

The estimated prevalence of ≥ 1 nocturia was high among men (20-39 years, 56.8%; 40-59 years, 70.2%; ≥ 60 years, 82.7%) and women (20-39 years, 68.9%; 40-59 years, 74.3%; ≥ 60 years, 84.7%), particularly in Non-Hispanic-blacks. From 2005-2016, the trends in prevalence of ≥ 1 nocturia increased for the age groups 20-39 and 40-59 years among men (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) and women 20-39 and 40-59 years (p < 0.001 and p = 0.032, respectively), but a stable trend was observed among men and women who were 60 years and older (p = 0.814, and p = 0.64, respectively). A significant increasing trend of ≥ 2 nocturia episodes was observed among men only aged 40-59 years (p = 0.007).

From 2005 through 2016, the secular trend in the frequency of nocturia increased in both men and women in general, which was significant under the age of 60 years, particularly in Non-Hispanic-blacks.