Overactive bladder (OAB) is a syndrome with urgency as the main symptom, usually accompanied by frequent urination, nocturia, and sometimes urge urinary incontinence. Globally, the prevalence of OAB in the general population has been reported to be about 20%. Nocturia was defined as the patient waking up at least once during the night to urinate. Among lower urinary tract symptoms, nocturia can significantly affect daily life and quality of life. Reported causes of nocturia include nocturnal polyuria, sleep disorders, circadian rhythm disruption (e.g., circadian rhythm sleep disorders), and reduced bladder capacity. Because overactive bladder (OAB) may be associated with reduced bladder capacity, anticholinergic agents are used as standard therapy in the management of nocturia associated with OAB. However, anticholinergic medications are associated with poor adherence, such as inadequate efficacy and adverse effects (e.g., dry mouth, constipation, and cognitive impairment). Therefore, it is imperative to find alternative therapies for anticholinergic drugs.
Previous studies have shown that transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TNS) can also significantly improve lower urinary tract symptoms, such as frequency, urgency, incontinence, and nocturia, and is also one of the options for the treatment of OAB. A previous study also demonstrated its improvement in sleep quality in women with nocturia. However, the efficacy of tibial nerve stimulation in the treatment of active bladder with nocturia is still a blank, and further studies are needed.