Aims: To estimate the incidence of hyponatremia in older adults who use nasal or oral desmopressin to treat nocturia.
Materials and methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies and randomised controlled trials of the use of nasal or oral desmopressin for older adults with nocturia. The incidence of hyponatremia was estimated by a random effects model for binomial data.
Results: Seventy-five papers were identified by the literature review of which 14 were reports of randomised trials or cohort studies. Seven studies reported the incidence of hyponatremia. The pooled estimate for the incidence of hyponatremia was 7.6% (95% CI 3.7-15.1).
Conclusions: Hyponatremia is a relatively common adverse effect of the use of desmopressin for the treatment of nocturia and caution and regular monitoring should be part of the use of this management option for nocturia in older adults.
Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.