Prevalence and bothersomeness of lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia and their impact on well-being

We established the prevalence and bothersomeness of symptoms and their impact on well-being in a large group of strictly selected men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Included in our study were 475 consecutive men who met the criteria of the International Consensus Committee on BPH and voided more than 150 ml. during uroflowmetry. International Prostate Symptom Scores and quality of life score were determined. We included the 7 bothersomeness questions of the Symptom Problem Index and the 4 of the BPH Impact Index of the American Urological Association Measurement Committee. These questions refer to the degree of bothersomeness caused by urinary problems and how they affect various health domains.

The symptoms with the highest prevalence based on mean scores were weak urinary stream, frequency and urgency. Urgency, nocturia and hesitancy were the most bothersome symptoms. Patients were only discouraged from performing normal daily activity when the symptom index exceeded 20. Incomplete emptying and frequency bothersomeness correlated strongly, and weak urinary stream and hesitancy bothersomeness correlated weakly with all health and quality of life domains.

Weak urinary stream, frequency and urgency were the most prevalent symptoms, while urgency, nocturia and hesitancy were the most bothersome symptoms. In contrast to weak urinary stream and hesitancy, the bothersomeness of incomplete emptying and frequency was strongly associated with well-being.