Is nocturia more bothersome than daytime urinary symptoms?

This study examined the differences in quality of life for patients with nocturia compared to those with daytime urinary symptoms only. This study found that patients with nocturia had a lower quality of life than patients with daytime symptoms only.

People diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; non-cancerous overgrowth of the prostate) or overactive bladder (OAB) often experience lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). These include dribbling of urine, incomplete emptying of the bladder and nocturia (getting up to urinate during the night). However, nocturia can also be experienced by itself, by people without other urinary problems. 

It is unclear if nocturia impacts worse the quality of life of patients than other LUTS and if patients are treated for the symptoms that bother them the most.

This study examined the consequences on daily living for patients with nocturia compared to those with daytime urinary problems only. 5335 patients (both male and female) with BPH and OAB were included in this study. Patients were given questionnaires to report on their daytime and night-time symptoms such as the urge to urinate or difficulty urinating. 

Patients diagnosed with nocturia were significantly more bothered by their symptom than only daytime LUTS patients. Furthermore, patients with nocturia were more likely to be bothered by daytime symptoms than patients with daytime only LUTS. 

Significantly more patients with nocturia (60%) reported being tired "always" or "usually" than patients with daytime problems only (37%). 13% of patients with nocturia reported an initial sleep period of more than 2-3 hours.

This study concluded that patients with nocturia had a lower quality of life than patients with daytime urinary symptoms only.

This study was based on self-reported data. Data collected in this way is not always reliable.