Sammanfattning
Nocturia is defined as awakenings one or more times a night due to urgency where each urination is preceded and followed by sleep.
It is a common cause of sleep disturbances in all age groups but more frequent in old age. It often causes lack of sleep with
accompanying reduced quality of life as well as increased morbidity and mortality. Underdiagnosis is common and patients are often
unaware of the association between urgency and sleep problems. The production of urine is almost the same throughout life but the
distribution during day and night is changed. In younger ages the day time production is twice the night time amount while they are
equalized in older ages. This nightly increase of diuresis as well as reduced bladder capacity are the main causes of nocturia. Men may
also have other causes of nocturia related to their prostate, as well as postmenopausal women may have urogenital atrophy due to lack
of oestrogen. Careful investigation, including medical history, micturition chart and impact on wellbeing, is mandatory. Exclusion of other
diseases is essential.Treatment includes life style counseling and sometimes medication with the synthetic antidiuretic hormone
desmopressin.