Bother index can be used in deciding how the symptom nocturia itself is important

Authors: AHMET TUNÇ ÖZDEMİR, HACI İBRAHİM ÇİMEN, SERKAN ALTINOVA, ALİ FUAT ATMACA, EGE CAN ŞEREFOĞLU, MEVLANA DERYA BALBAY

Abstract: Aim: To report the prevalence of nocturia. Associated risk factors and bother in various age groups (by decade) were evaluated in order to determine the characteristics of individuals who may need medical help. Materials and methods: To estimate the extent to which patients were bothered relative to nocturia in various age groups (by decade), a descriptive figure, the "bother index," was used. The bother index was calculated by dividing the number of individuals reporting a bother score higher than a symptom score by the number of individuals reporting a bother score lower than a symptom score in the same age and sex group. Results: Data from 940 women and 2073 men were analyzed. The overall prevalence of nocturia was 65%, with an increasing proportion in the older groups in both sexes (P < 0.001). In light of the bother index, nocturia was better tolerated in women than in men (0.0271 vs. 0.074, respectively), and patients with a higher frequency of nocturia also reported a higher bother score (P < 0.001). The highest bother index value was seen in the third decade (0.080), and it decreased as the decades progressed. Conclusion: Nocturia is better tolerated in women and elderly populations. The bother index may be a useful indicator of the bother of nocturia and may help in deciding whether an individual with nocturia needs medical help.

Keywords: Bother, nocturia, prevalence

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