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Enuresis and obstructive sleep apnea in adults
N R Kramer1, A E Bonitati, R P Millman
1Division of Pulmonary, Sleep, and Critical Care Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Brown University School of Medicine, Providence 02903, USA.
Chest
|September 3, 1998
Summary
Adult enuresis, or bedwetting, can be an unusual symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Treating severe OSA with CPAP therapy effectively resolved enuresis in adult patients.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Urology
Background:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly associated with enuresis in children, but infrequently recognized in adults.
- Adult enuresis is an uncommon symptom in sleep medicine, prompting investigation into its connection with OSA.
Observation:
- Five adult patients with new-onset enuresis were evaluated at a Sleep Disorders Center.
- Enuresis onset in all cases correlated with the progression of obstructive sleep apnea symptoms.
Findings:
- Treatment of severe OSA with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) led to the resolution of enuresis in all five patients.
- This suggests a direct link between OSA severity and the development of adult enuresis.
Implications:
- Severe OSA may precipitate new-onset enuresis in the adult population.
- Effective management of OSA through CPAP therapy can successfully treat associated enuresis, improving patient quality of life.