Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to measure at the population level the prevalence, bother, effect on quality of life, and behavior associated with treatment for nocturia in a large representative cohort of Polish adults aged ≥40 years. Materials and Methods: Data were derived from LUTS POLAND, a computer-assisted telephone survey of urological health that mirrored the entire Polish population in urban and rural areas. Results: Six thousand persons completed the survey. The respondents were representative for age, sex, and place of residence. Nocturia was highly prevalent because 73.7% of all participants reported ≥1 nocturia episode, and 36.1% reported ≥2 nocturia episodes. We did not identify differences between urban and rural areas. Women were more often affected than men, and the prevalence of nocturia increased with age. More than one-third (29.7-45.3%) of respondents who reported nocturia were bothered by the symptom and, thereby, concerned about their urinary-specific quality of life. Notably, we found a statistically significant correlation between the frequency of nocturia and intensification of its bother (p < 0.001 for men and women). However, only about one-fourth (22.2-29.2%) of respondents with nocturia sought treatment, most of whom received treatment. Conclusions: Nocturia was highly prevalent and often bothersome with negative effects on quality of life of Polish adults aged ≥40 years. However, the percentage of treatment seeking was low. Combined with the fact that nocturia has multiple causes and consequences, including high morbidity and mortality, our findings revealed that nocturia was a significant public health issue. We need to develop strategies to specifically increase awareness about nocturia and provide greater healthcare and financial resources for persons with nocturia in Poland.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). 2021 May 10*** epublish ***
Mikolaj Przydacz, Piotr Chlosta
Department of Urology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-688 Krakow, Poland.