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Frequency‐Volume Charts: Comparison of Frequency between Elderly and Adult Patients
Author(s) -
SAITO M.,
KONDO A.,
KATO T.,
YAMADA Y.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1993.tb06453.x
Subject(s) - medicine , polyuria , anticholinergic , urination , etiology , urinary urgency , urinary system , pediatrics , overactive bladder , endocrinology , alternative medicine , pathology , diabetes mellitus
Summary— Urinary frequency is a common complaint in the elderly and can be due to many different causes. To clarify the aetiology of frequency, patient‐maintained frequency‐volume charts were evaluated as a diagnostic tool. We studied 215 patients who complained of frequency. They were divided into 2 groups based on age: 85 were over 65 years of age (elderly group) and 130 were less than 64 years old (adult group). Compared with the adults, elderly patients had a smaller urinary volume during waking hours and a larger volume during sleeping hours, with more frequent episodes of voiding and a smaller volume voided during the latter period. Analysis of the cause of frequency led to the patients being subdivided into 6 diagnostic categories. Among elderly patients, nocturnal polyuria (37%) and an unstable bladder (34%) were frequent causes. In adult patients an unstable bladder (28%) and polyuria due to excessive fluid intake (23%) were most common. As a result of our findings, 108 patients were advised not to be concerned about their micturition and/or restriction of fluid intake. Seventy‐six patients (35%) required anticholinergic medication. Frequency‐volume charts, together with a detailed medical history, provide useful information on the diagnosis and treatment of frequency.