Nocturia: recommendations from the experts on diagnosis

This study reviewed the criteria for diagnosing and treating nocturia.

Nocturia is a condition where a person wakes at night one or more times to urinate. It can have a negative impact on sleep quality and duration. As a result, it can affect the quality of life. Nocturia is a lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS). Other LUTS include polyuria and nocturnal polyuria.

Understanding the causes and symptoms of nocturia is important. For many years, nocturia was not considered a significant problem. In 2014, the International Continence Society (ICS) set up a working group to review nocturia.

This study reviewed nocturia symptoms and diagnostic criteria.

An increase in urine production can cause nocturia. The kidneys control the amount of urine by filtering water, salts, and acids from the blood. They allow a certain amount to be absorbed by the body. If there is excess water or salt, then urine production increases.

To determine if a patient has nocturia, a doctor will ask how often the patient wakes at night to use the toilet. This is called voiding frequency. The volume of urine produced is also important. If a patient produces more than 40 milliliters/kg over 24 hours then they are diagnosed with polyuria. Polyuria is the term for excessive urine production. Polyuria at night is called nocturnal polyuria. A patient has nocturnal polyuria if more than 20% of daily urine is produced at night. For patients over 65, the threshold is 33%.

Using a bladder diary can identify if a patient has any of these LUTS. A patient should record how often they urinate and the volume of urine each time. A doctor will also perform a physical examination. Some LUTS can be a symptom of underlying conditions. These include diabetes, anxiety or sleep disorders. Using a bladder diary can aid diagnosis and treatment.

This study reviewed the expert recommendations for diagnosing nocturia, in order to get proper treatment.