Prevalence of urinary symptoms and other urological conditions in Spanish men 50 years old or older.

PURPOSE We determined the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and other urological conditions in Spanish men. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional population survey of 2,002 men 50 years old or older was done using interviewers in the autonomous community of Madrid. The main outcome measures were the self-reported International Prostate Symptom Score, and acute retention, incontinence, renal failure, hematuria, urinary infection and bladder stones. RESULTS The estimated response rate among eligible responders was 68.1%. The prevalence of moderate or severe symptoms was 30.4%, which increased with age. Of men with moderate or severe symptoms 26.5% reported that the symptoms were a medium or great problem and 5.4% reported that the symptoms interfered with daily activities at least sometimes. The prevalence of other urological conditions related to the prostate was 5.1% for acute retention, 1.2% for current use of a catheter, 6.1% for incontinence, 2.4% for renal failure, 2.5% for hematuria, 5.2% for urinary infection and 0.7% for bladder stones. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of moderate or severe symptoms is greater than reported in most other studies. Although Spanish men with moderate or severe symptoms report similar levels of bothersomeness, the impact of the symptoms in terms of interference with daily activities and perception of the future is less than that in other countries.