Nocturia is Associated with High Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Women: Results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Disruption of circadian rhythm as a potential pathogenesis of nocturia

Increasing evidence suggested the multifactorial nature of nocturia, but the true pathogenesis of this condition still remains to be elucidated. Contemporary clinical medications are mostly symptom based, aimed at either reducing nocturnal urine volume or targeting autonomic receptors within the bladder to facilitate urine storage. The day-night switch of the micturition pattern is controlled by circadian clocks located both in the central nervous system and in the peripheral organs. Arousal threshold and secretion of melatonin and vasopressin increase at night-time to achieve high-quality sleep and minimize nocturnal urine production. In response to the increased vasopressin, the kidney reduces the glomerular filtration rate and facilitates the reabsorption of water. Synchronously, in the bladder, circadian oscillation of crucial molecules occurs to reduce afferent sensory input and maintain sufficient bladder capacity during the night sleep period. Thus, nocturia might occur as a result of desynchronization in one or more of these circadian regulatory mechanisms. Disrupted rhythmicity of the central nervous system, kidney and bladder (known as the brain-kidney-bladder circadian axis) contributes to the pathogenesis of nocturia. Novel insights into the chronobiological nature of nocturia will be crucial to promote a revolutionary shift towards effective therapeutics targeting the realignment of the circadian rhythm.

Association between TV and/or video time and nocturia in adults: An analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the correlation between television (TV) and/or video viewing time and the occurrence of nocturia in adults.

METHODS

An analysis of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2011-2016 was conducted, involving 13 294 adults aged 20 and older. The main outcome was specified as nocturia, which refers to the requirement of urinating two or more times during the night. Initially, baseline characteristics were contrasted between individuals with and without nocturia. The effects of TV and/or video viewing time on nocturia were further explored using multivariable logistic regression models. To acknowledge the variation in baseline data regarding the prevalence of nocturia, subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that individuals in the group with the longest TV and/or video viewing time had a significantly 48% higher risk of experiencing nocturia compared to those with the shortest TV and/or video viewing time. The results of subgroup analyses revealed no significant differences in the interaction tests between TV and/or video viewing time and nocturia.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research showed that individuals who spent 5 or more hours a day watching TV and/or videos were significantly more likely to develop nocturia.

Family Physician's Educational Interview with Patients Helps in Early Recognition of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Purpose

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can have an etiology outside the lower urinary tract (LUT) and are therefore an important diagnostic indicator for assessing the overall health of a person. However, LUTS is still mainly neglected by primary health care providers as well as by patients. In this study, we assessed the importance of an educational interview (EI) conducted by a GP on the patients’ ability to recognize LUTS. We also investigated other factors that affect the recognition of LUTS: subjects’ personal educational level, number of LUT symptoms and their bothersome level on a scale 0–10.

Patients and Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted in Croatia (2018–2020) by interviewing 499 subjects. We compared recognized LUT symptoms before and after the EI and determined whether their number, their bothersome level, or the subjects’ personal educational level were associated with LUTS recognition.

Results

EI significantly improved the ability to recognize LUTS (p=0.001). The number of LUT symptoms and bothersome level in subjects before EI was much greater than the number in subjects after EI (p<0.0001, mean>4 and p<0.0001, median>8, respectively). Subjects with higher educational level recognized LUTS with fewer symptoms after the EI (p<0.01), but no difference was observed among subjects who recognized LUTS before the EI.

Conclusion

For subjects to recognize LUTS, their condition had to be severe – more than 4 symptoms and bothersome level >8/10. Personal educational level had little impact on LUTS recognition. However, an EI proved to be an excellent tool for raising awareness about LUTS and its early recognition.