The effects of nocturia on sleep, mood, memory, and quality of life in women across the lifespan

Chalmers, Daljinder

Abstract

Introduction: Historically nocturia has received more attention as a men’s health issue, despite the high prevalence in women as well. Nocturia in women has been thought of as a symptom of other disorders such as overactive bladder or global polyuria, though nocturia often occurs without daytime symptoms. With a growing body of literature regarding its prevalence, determinants, and implications, nocturia in women can begin to be assessed as an entity in and of itself. The aims of the present study was to observe the impact of nocturia on women’s health and wellbeing, specifically sleep, and to identify which age groups are more likely to void more than once per night and finally to identify if other factors such as occupation, parous status, ethnicity, exercise, can impact nocturia.
Method: A total of 180 women from the ages of 19 to 86 years took part in this cross-sectional survey study. The survey consisted of a range of validated and reliable instruments which measured sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Groningen Sleep Quality Scale (GSQS), nocturia which was measured using the Nocturia Sleep Quality Scale (NSQS), quality of life which was measured using the 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) and mood which was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The study was advertised through a range of on-line platforms and accessed via a link through Qualtrics.
Results: The PSQI data revealed low scores for subjective sleep quality and above average global PSQI scores. Participants reported taking 30 minutes or more to fall asleep and with longer than usual time spent in bed. Participants reported a mean score of 5.36 for the GSQS which is just under the score of disturbed sleep and the component scores for the NSQS; Lost sleep time score and impacts score were similar to a population score with night-time voids ≥ 1 and disturbed sleep. For quality of life, low scores for the component physical function, physical problems, and role emotional was reported, physical health and mental health was reported as low and finally high scores for anxiety (HAD-A) and the total HADS score were reported.
Conclusion: It is important to take note of these possibilities and to understand that the present study has only scratched the surface and highlighted the importance of understanding and acknowledging that individuals diagnosed with nocturia do have disturbed sleep in many of the areas highlighted by the PSQI, NSQS and GSQS. Disturbed sleep is also very detrimental to the individual’s psychological well-being, in particular their general health, mood and QoL. Future research needs to include objective measures to further explore the disturbed sleep patterns of such individuals and to collect normative data which would be highly useful in exploring these factors and how they may affect the individuals sleep and psychological functioning.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Apr 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 19, 2024
• Keywords: Sleep, Nocturia, women, life-span, mood, quality of life.
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11921664
• Award Date: Nov 19, 2024