Impact of Overactive Bladder and Dry Mouth on Subjective and Comprehensive Sleep Quality in Older Adults With...

Nocturia is among the most common and bothersome urinary tract symptoms in older adults. While sleep quality is key to nocturia management, there is little information on the impact of nocturia itself on sleep quality. We investigated the impacts of nocturia on sleep quality and quality of life and explored factors contributing to reduced sleep quality.

A total of 186 men, aged 42-88 years (patients with nocturia and a control group), were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Nocturia Quality-of-Life questionnaire, a visual analog scale measurement of dry mouth, and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, among other tools. Patients were graded into four categories of nocturia severity based on 3-day frequency volume charts. Factors associated with reduced subjective and comprehensive sleep quality were investigated using multiple regression analysis.

Initial undisturbed sleep duration was negatively associated with nocturia frequency. Subjective and comprehensive sleep quality, overactive bladder scores, sleep efficiency and oral dryness were significantly associated with nocturia-related quality of life, when controlled for both age and nocturia severity. Sleep efficiency was a major predictor of reduced subjective and comprehensive sleep quality; overactive bladder scores and oral dryness were also independently significantly associated with reduced subjective and comprehensive sleep quality on multiple regression analysis, although nocturia frequency and initial undisturbed sleep duration were not.

It may be beneficial to conduct a comprehensive assessment for overactive bladder and dry mouth when managing nocturia in older adults with poor sleep quality.