Impact of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms on Discomfort in Men Aged between 50 and 80 Years

Background/Aims: There are only a few surveys on the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among the general population. The aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence of LUTS and their impact on discomfort in men. Methods: A questionnaire was mailed to 3,877 men aged 50–80 years, which included questions on their medical history, demographic and sociological status, and also the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) with additional questions on discomfort related to urinary symptoms. Results: The response rate was 81.5%. Prevalence of mild and severe IPSS was 89.2%. Specific bother for each urinary symptom depended on symptom frequency: urgency, frequency, weak stream, nocturia, incomplete emptying, intermittency and straining 1 time out of 5 were responsible for discomfort in respectively 4.9, 6.1, 7.1, 7.5, 8.7 and 9.9%; the same symptoms more than half of the time were responsible for discomfort in respectively 32.8, 38, 45.3, 45.6, 53.2 and 58.7%. Urgency was much more deeply implicated in discomfort than frequency of nocturia. Conclusions: Urinary symptoms in men are very common. Nocturia is the most frequent but has a low impact on discomfort. Urgency has a higher impact on discomfort and should therefore be considered in treatment decision-making.

[1]  L. Kiemeney,et al.  The impact of lower urinary tract symptoms and comorbidities on quality of life: the BACH and UREPIK studies , 2007, BJU international.

[2]  T. Tammela,et al.  Impact of LUTS using bother index in DAN-PSS-1 questionnaire. , 2007, European urology.

[3]  A. Taille,et al.  Management of non-complicated BPH: proposition of a renewed decision tree , 2006, World Journal of Urology.

[4]  M. Cucherat,et al.  Relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms frequency assessed by the IPSS and bothersomeness (SPI) among men older than 50 years old. , 2005, European urology.

[5]  L. Henningsohn,et al.  Prevalence of distress and symptom severity from the lower urinary tract in men: a population-based study with the DAN-PSS questionnaire. , 2004, Family practice.

[6]  Mark Emberton,et al.  EAU 2004 guidelines on assessment, therapy and follow-up of men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (BPH guidelines). , 2004, European urology.

[7]  P. Boyle,et al.  [Lower urinary tract symptoms and male sexual dysfunction: the multinational survey of the aging.male (MSAM-7)]. , 2003, Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie.

[8]  H. V. van Melick,et al.  Prevalence and bothersomeness of lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia and their impact on well-being. , 2001, The Journal of urology.

[9]  D. Hunter,et al.  Prevalence of urinary symptoms and other urological conditions in Spanish men 50 years old or older. , 1996, The Journal of urology.

[10]  W. Hop,et al.  The International Prostate Symptom Score in a community-based sample of men between 55 and 74 years of age: prevalence and correlation of symptoms with age, prostate volume, flow rate and residual urine volume. , 1995, British journal of urology.

[11]  M. Barry,et al.  Measuring disease-specific health status in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Measurement Committee of The American Urological Association. , 1995, Medical care.

[12]  J. Nickel,et al.  'Prostate-related symptoms' in Canadian men 50 years of age or older: prevalence and relationships among symptoms. , 1994, British journal of urology.

[13]  P. Boyle,et al.  Results of an epidemiological survey using a modified American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia in France. , 1994, The Journal of urology.

[14]  C. C. Chen,et al.  Natural history of prostatism: urinary flow rates in a community-based study. , 1993, The Journal of urology.

[15]  M. Barry,et al.  The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. , 1992, The Journal of urology.

[16]  W. Garraway,et al.  High prevalence of benign prostatic hypertrophy in the community , 1991, The Lancet.

[17]  J. Andersen,et al.  A patient weighted symptom score system in the evaluation of uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia. , 1991, Scandinavian journal of urology and nephrology. Supplementum.

[18]  S. Kaplan.  Update on the american urological association guidelines for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. , 2006, Reviews in urology.

[19]  X. Badia,et al.  Ten-language translation and harmonization of the International Prostate Symptom Score: developing a methodology for multinational clinical trials. , 1997, European urology.

[20]  P. Boyle,et al.  International comparison of the community prevalence of symptoms of prostatism in four countries. , 1996, European urology.