In a study published in Neurourology and Urodynamics , adults who spent 5 or more hours a day watching television and/or videos were more likely to develop nocturia, or the need to urinate several times during the night.
Nocturia is a prevalent medical condition characterized by the need to wake up several times during the night to urinate, which significantly affects an individual’s overall quality of life . Nocturia not only increases the likelihood of diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, and mortality, but also contributes a significant economic burden to society. Consequently, nocturia has become a critical public health problem that requires comprehensive attention and interventions. Nocturia can often be attributed to other underlying conditions, making treatments aimed solely at nocturia less effective . Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the risk factors associated with nocturia to proactively prevent its occurrence.
Previous research has looked at the impact of obesity and lifestyle on nocturia, demonstrating that bariatric surgery and lifestyle improvements can effectively alleviate the symptoms of nocturia. Television and video consumption has become an integral part of the modern lifestyle, with many people spending considerable hours in front of screens for entertainment, news or work-related purposes. The prevalence of screens in modern life has caused many people to spend more hours in front of the screen. Excessive television viewing is recognized as an unhealthy lifestyle choice , as it increases the risk of obesity and diabetes, both of which are established risk factors for nocturia . The findings of these studies indicate a potential association between prolonged television viewing and nocturia. Despite the prevalent nature of long-term television viewing in contemporary society, a comprehensive exploration of its association with nocturia is notably missing from the existing literature.
In this context, we collected data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the possible association between long-term television viewing and the occurrence of nocturia. Confirmation of such an association could significantly contribute to the development of specific health recommendations.
Goals
This study aimed to examine the correlation between television (TV) and/or video viewing time and the occurrence of nocturia in adults.
Methods
An analysis was conducted of data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2011-2016, in which 13,294 adults aged 20 years and older participated. The primary outcome was specified as nocturia , which refers to the need to urinate two or more times during the night.
Initially, baseline characteristics were contrasted between individuals with and without nocturia. The effects of television and/or video viewing time on nocturia were further explored using multivariable logistic regression models. To recognize variation in baseline data regarding the prevalence of nocturia, subgroup analyzes were performed.
Results
Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that individuals in the group with the longest television and/or video viewing time had a significantly increased risk (48%) of experiencing nocturia compared to those with the shortest television and/or video viewing time.
The results of the subgroup analyzes revealed no significant differences in tests of interaction between television and/or video viewing time and nocturia.
Conclusions Our research showed that people who spent 5 or more hours a day watching television and/or videos were significantly more likely to develop nocturia. |
Discussion
Nocturia, as defined by the International Continence Society, refers to the condition in which an individual wakes up to urinate one or more times during the night. Although a single nocturnal voiding episode qualifies as nocturia, clinical significance is generally attributed to occurrence two or more times during the night. Previous research has consistently shown that it not only decreases quality of life and sleep, but also increases the risk of falls, fractures, and even cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, it is important to note that nocturia is significantly related to mortality rates in both sexes. Nocturia is influenced by a multitude of factors, including gender, age, ethnicity, BMI, and the presence of conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
The main objective of our study was to investigate the association between television and/or video viewing time and the prevalence of nocturia. In particular, people who spent 5 or more hours a day watching television and/or videos were significantly more likely to experience nocturia. Despite this, the mechanism by which prolonged television viewing increases the risk of nocturia is not well understood. The pathogenesis of nocturia can be classified as global polyuria, nocturnal polydipsia, reduced bladder capacity, sleep disorders, and mixed disorders.
First, prolonged periods of television viewing increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Additionally, television viewing typically aligns with beverage consumption, leading to high fluid intake. The combination of diabetes and increased fluid intake contributes to global polyuria, a condition associated with nocturia. Additionally, prolonged television viewing involves prolonged periods of sedentary behavior, which is associated with leg edema. Peripheral edema is one of the factors that contribute to nocturia at night.
Second, the findings suggested that long-term TV viewing can lead to neurological disorders, potentially triggering bladder dysfunction. Additionally, prolonged, high-intensity television viewing may lead to an increase in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, influencing systemic inflammation and potentially exacerbating the development of lower urinary tract symptoms. These factors may potentially impact the occurrence of nocturia by mediating the relationship between prolonged television viewing and lower urinary tract dysfunction.
Finally, studies had shown that watching TV for a long period of time had negative impacts on health, such as reducing sleep duration or affecting sleep quality. And a decrease in sleep quality is closely related to experiencing nocturia. Furthermore, a correlation has been found between watching television and a high risk of obesity, a factor conclusively linked to the severity of nocturia.
Comments
The study was based on data from 2011-2016 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among 13,294 American people aged 20 years or older, 4,236 (31.86%) reported experiencing nocturia , while 9,058 (68.14%) did not.
Participants with 5 or more hours of television and/or video viewing per day had a 48% increased risk of experiencing nocturia compared to those with less than 1 hour of daily television and/or video viewing.
"As people increasingly engage in screen-based activities, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of prolonged television and/or video time on nocturia patterns is crucial for both healthcare and healthcare professionals. public health," the authors wrote. "For people who spend a lot of time watching television or watching videos, health professionals can offer behavioral intervention recommendations, encouraging appropriate management of screen time .
Final message This study highlights the importance of considering prolonged television and/or video viewing time as a potential risk factor for nocturia . As people increasingly participate in screen-based activities, a comprehensive understanding of the impact of prolonged television and/or video time on nocturia patterns is crucial for both health care professionals and healthcare providers. public. Health care professionals should emphasize in patient education that prolonged television and/or video viewing may be associated with nocturia. Increasing public awareness of this potential health risk encourages people to be more aware of the time they spend watching television or videos. For people who spend a lot of time watching television or watching videos, health professionals can offer behavioral intervention recommendations, encouraging proper screen time management. |