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Apnea may be cause for awakening and voiding for those with enlarged prostates

Date:
March 15, 2011
Source:
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Summary:
Researchers found that more than half (57.8 percent) of patients with enlarged prostates may in fact have the sleep disorder, and that the awakenings that patients ascribed to their need to urinate at night may be actually caused by their sleep disorders.
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Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) researchers have shown that a significant number of patients with benign prostate enlargement (BPE) may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which may be the reason for their night awakenings and urination.

This study compared men between the ages of 55 and 75 years-old, who were randomly sampled from primary care clinics, diagnosed with BPE and reported nocturia at least once nightly. The comparison control group had no BPE and one or no nocturia episodes per night.

According to the new study published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, the BGU researchers found that more than half (57.8 percent) of patients with enlarged prostates may in fact have the sleep disorder, and that the awakenings that patients ascribed to their need to urinate at night may be actually caused by their sleep disorders.

Waking during the night to void, known as "nocturia" is a common BPE symptom. OSA is a sleep disorder characterized by snoring, witnessed apneas, awakenings and day sleepiness.

"If nocturia severity in BPE patients is actually a pre-existing sleep disorder, this can now be treated and help improve patients' quality of life," explains Dr. Howard Tandeter, a researcher in BGU's Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences. He recommends that physicians following patients with BPE who report frequent awakeningsfrom sleep to urinate should suspect OSA as a possible cause and treat accordingly.

"Even among those patients with well-defined medical reasons for nocturia, sleep disorders may still be found as the source of most awakenings from sleep. Therefore, the diagnosis of a sleep disorder should be seriously considered whenever a patient reports frequent awakenings from sleepto urinate since the problem is treatable," explains Tandeter.


Story Source:

Materials provided by American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. H. Tandeter, S. Gendler, J. Dreiher, A. Tarasiuk. Nocturic Episodes in Patients with Benign Prostatic Enlargement May Suggest the Presence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 2011; 24 (2): 146 DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2011.02.100110

Cite This Page:

American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. "Apnea may be cause for awakening and voiding for those with enlarged prostates." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 15 March 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110315103751.htm>.
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. (2011, March 15). Apnea may be cause for awakening and voiding for those with enlarged prostates. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110315103751.htm
American Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. "Apnea may be cause for awakening and voiding for those with enlarged prostates." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110315103751.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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