Nocturia, defined by the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the need to void two or more times per night, affects over 89 million adults in the U.S.[1],[2] While the condition is common, it is an understudied and often under-diagnosed urological disorder occurring in adults.[3] The condition affects men and women almost equally across all age groups.[4] Although it is more frequently diagnosed in older adults, nocturia is not a natural part of aging.
Currently, there is no FDA-approved drug indicated for the treatment of nocturia, even though the condition is the most common lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS).[5] Nocturia is a leading reason for visits to urologists, and many patients also seek treatment for the condition from gynecologists, geriatric specialists, neurologists, sleep experts, endocrinologists and general practitioners, placing a large burden on the U.S. healthcare system.
[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Need Relief From Overactive Bladder Symptoms? 2015 July. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm426099.htm
[2] Age Groups and Sex: 2000 data set: Census 2000 Summary File (SF1)
[3] Weiss JP, Blaivas JG, Bliwise DL, et al. The evaluation and treatment of nocturia: a consensus statement. BJU Int. 2011;108:6–21. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21676145
[4] Bosch JL, Weiss JP. The prevalence and causes of nocturia. J Urol. 2010 Aug;184(2):440-6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2010.04.011.
[5] Miranda EP, Gomes CM, Torricelli FCM, de Bessa J Jr., de Castro JE, da Silva Ferreira BR, Scafuri AG, Bruschini H, Srougi M. Nocturia is the Lower Urinary Tract Symptom With Greatest Impact on Quality of Life of Men From a Community Setting. Int Neurourol J. 2014 June; 18(2): 86–90. Published online 2014 June 26. doi: 10.5213/inj.2014.18.2.86