Effects of two nonpharmacological treatments on the sleep quality of women with nocturia: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Introduction and hypothesis: The objective was to check the effects of two nonpharmacological treatments on the sleep quality of women with nocturia. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial in which 40 women with nocturia were randomized into two groups; one was subjected to tibial nerve stimulation (GTNS) and the other received pelvic floor muscle training associated with behavioral therapy (GPFMT). Both groups were followed for 12weeks, with one session/week; evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), King's Heath Questionnaire (KHQ), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The Wilcoxon test was used to compare intra-group data and the Mann-Whitney test for intergroup results. Effect size and confidence interval were calculated, and the level of significance was set at 5%. Results: Both groups showed improvements in quality of sleep, observed by the PSQI total score (GTNS from 9 +/- 0.88 to 7 +/- 0.94, p=0.002; GPFMT from 8 +/- 0.80 to 5 +/- 0.94, p<0.001) and the sleep/energy domain of the KHQ (GTNS from 66.66 +/- 9.03 to 16.66 +/- 7.20, p=0.002; GPFMT from 66.66 +/- 9.30 to 0.00 +/- 7.26, p=0.001). Conclusions: Both nonpharmacological treatments proposed (TNS or PFMT) were equally able to improve quality of sleep of women with nocturia.