Sleep Disturbance Has a Higher Impact on General and Mental Quality of Life Reduction than Nocturia: Results from the Community Health Survey in Japan

Abstract

Background: Nocturia has been reported to be associated with sleep disturbance. However, whether nocturia or sleep disturbance has a more negative influence on the quality of life (QOL) of individuals remains unclear.

Objective: To compare the impact of nocturia and sleep disturbance on QOL.

Design, setting, and participants: This was a cross-sectional study including 3992 adults who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project between 2011 and 2015 in Hirosaki, Japan.

Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Sleep disturbance and nocturia were assessed in all participants using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), international prostate symptom score for men, and overactive bladder symptom score for women. Sleep disturbance was defined as a PSQI score of ≥6. QOL was measured using the Short Form-36 questionnaire. Impacts of nocturia and sleep disturbance on QOL reduction (>30%) were investigated using logistic regression analyses.

Results and limitation: Of the 3992 participants, sleep disturbance was observed in 632 (16%). The frequency of nocturia was significantly associated with PSQI scores. Of QOL domains, both sleep disturbance and nocturia were significantly associated with decreases in the physical component summary score (physical QOL). However, nocturia was not associated with general health (general QOL) and mental component summary (mental QOL) scores. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that nocturia was not associated with a >30% reduction in general and mental QOL, whereas sleep disturbance was significantly associated with general, physical, and mental QOL reduction. As this was a cross-sectional study, the causality of nocturia and sleep disturbance could not be assessed.

Conclusions: Nocturia and sleep disturbance affect QOL domains differently. Sleep disturbance has a higher impact on general and mental QOL reduction than nocturia.

Patient summary: We compared the impact of nocturia and sleep disturbance on quality of life (QOL). Nocturia was not associated with general and mental QOL reduction, whereas sleep disturbance was associated with general, physical, and mental QOL reduction.

Keywords: Lower urinary tract symptom; Nocturia; Overactive bladder symptom score; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Quality of life; Sleep disturbance.