Evaluation of Quality of Life and Quality of Sleep in Clinical Practice

Abstract

Nocturia has been recognised as one of the most bothersome storage symptoms in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). It has a negative impact on quality of sleep (QoS), which might result in daytime fatigue, decreased energy/vitality, insomnia, and increased incidence of infection, and may ultimately negatively affect the patient's quality of life (QoL). However, the evaluation of a patient with LUTS/BPH and assessment of benefits of new medical and surgical LUTS/BPH treatments are mainly focused on voiding symptoms or flow rate. The impact of storage symptoms, in particular nocturia, on the patient's QoS and QoL is often underestimated. Commonly used instruments to measure the severity of nocturia and its impact on QoS and QoL are not specific and lack sensitivity. Potential new instruments that evaluate the consequences of nocturia on QoL are nocturia-specific questionnaires such as the Nocturia QoL (N-QoL) questionnaire. Furthermore, the assessment of “Hours of Undisturbed Sleep” (HUS) seems a useful method to evaluate the impact of nocturia on QoS. These new tools should be incorporated in clinical practice and may give better insights into the effects of LUTS/BPH treatments on the patient's QoS, energy/vitality, and overall QoL.