Nocturia: a risk factor for falls in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if nocturia is a risk factor for reported falls and bone fractures in older persons.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study comparing falls in men and women with and without nocturia.

SETTING

Longitudinal health screening program of ambulatory elderly participants.

PARTICIPANTS

Participants included 988 (65.5%) women and 520 (34.5%) men who had completed their tenth annual visit to the program.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Reported falls in the past year and reported bone fractures in the past 5 years.

RESULTS

Participants who reported nocturia at least twice during the night were at significantly greater risk to report falls (Odds Ratio = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.05-3.22), and the risk increased in subjects reporting more than three nocturia events (Odds Ratio = 2.15; 95% CI = 1.04-4.44). The significant increase in falls reported by nocturia participants did not result in an increase in reported bone fractures in the past 5 years (P < 0.4360).

CONCLUSIONS

Nocturia is an important risk factor for falls in ambulatory elderly persons. Preventive measures should be taken to decrease nocturia events and to decrease the risk of falling during these nocturia events.