Sleep Disorders and Childhood Enuresis in Women with Overactive Bladder Syndrome: Cross-Sectional Study

Childhood enuresis may be associated with overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) in adulthood, which may contribute to sleep disorders. The objective was to compare the prevalence of childhood enuresis and sleep quality among women with and without OAB.

This mixed study included women with and without OAB, who completed an online questionnaire covering sociodemographic, urinary data, and five validated instruments in Portuguese: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Berlin Questionnaire (QB-BR), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS-BR), and the Incontinence Questionnaire Overactive Bladder (ICIQ-OAB).

A total of 172 women were included, 86 in each group (OAB and non-OAB). The OAB group showed a higher prevalence of childhood enuresis (52.3% vs 25.6%, p < 0.001), poorer sleep quality on the PSQI-BR (9.6 ± 4.1 vs 5.7 ± 3.1, p < 0.001), more individuals classified as high risk of obstructive sleep apnea by the QB-BR (34.9% vs 15.1%, p < 0.001), higher impact on fatigue assessed by the MFIS-BR (39.3 ± 21.8 vs 17.8 ± 17.2, p < 0.001), and more daytime sleepiness according to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (10.9 ± 6.1 vs 8.7 ± 4.8, p = 0.014). Women with OAB were associated with poor sleep quality, fatigue, obstructive sleep apnea, and daytime sleepiness. Childhood enuresis was associated with a 2.96 times higher chance of developing OAB (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.41-6.19; p = 0.004).

Overactive bladder was associated with a higher prevalence of childhood enuresis, diminished sleep quality, elevated risk of obstructive sleep apnea, heightened fatigue, and increased daytime sleepiness among women. OAB increases the risk of sleep disorders and childhood enuresis increases the chances of developing OAB.