Nocturia, nocturnal incontinence prevalence, and response to anticholinergic and behavioral therapy

Abstract

To determine whether participants in the behavior enhances drug reduction of incontinence (BE-DRI) trial experienced reduction in the frequency of nocturia and/or nocturnal leakage during treatment with antimuscarinic phamacotherapy with or without additional behavioral therapy. We analyzed urinary diary data relating to nocturia and nocturnal incontinence before and after 8 weeks of study treatment in the BE-DRI trial, in which patients were randomly assigned to receive drug therapy with tolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules 4 mg alone or in combination with behavioral training. Chi-square tests assessed whether nocturia and nocturnal incontinence prevalence varied by treatment arm and paired t tests assessed the change in mean frequency of nocturia and nocturnal leakage. Among 305 women, 210 (69%) had an average of at least one nocturia episode at baseline. There were small but statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in mean nocturia frequency and nocturnal incontinence frequency with both treatments after 8 weeks, but no significant difference between study treatment groups. Among these urge incontinent women, tolterodine with or without supervised behavioral therapy had little impact on either nocturic frequency or nocturnal incontinence.