Nocturia is a troubling condition with implications for daytime functioning. However, it often goes unreported. Many prevalence studies exist but differences in populations and definitions of nocturia render assimilation of the data difficult. This review provides an overview of the nocturia prevalence literature.

A PubMed® search was performed to identify articles published in English from 1990 to February 2009 reporting nocturia prevalence in community based populations. Rates reported as overall data, and by age and by gender, were plotted for comparison.

A total of 43 relevant articles were identified. Prevalence rates in younger men (20 to 40 years) were 1 or more voids in 11% to 35.2% and 2 or more voids in 2% to 16.6%. Prevalence rates in younger women were 1 or more voids in 20.4% to 43.9% and 2 or more voids in 4.4% to 18%. In older men (older than 70 years) rates were 1 or more void in 68.9% to 93% and 2 or more voids in 29% to 59.3%. In older women rates were 1 or more void in 74.1% to 77.1% and 2 or more voids in 28.3% to 61.5%. Therefore, in practice up to 1 in 5 or 6 younger people consistently wake to void at least twice each night. In some studies younger women appeared more likely to be affected than men. Up to 60% of older people void 2 or more times nightly.

Nocturia is common across populations. It is most prevalent in older people but it also affects a significant proportion of younger individuals. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility that nocturia may impact the sleep, quality of life and overall health of their patients. Since the condition is highly multifactorial, frequency-volume charts are invaluable tools for the diagnosis of underlying factors and for treatment selection.