A multicentre prospective study of prostatic volume in asymptomatic men in various continents

Objective: To compare prostatic volumes in asymptomatic Asian men with similar controls in Europe. Patients and methods: Six centres (Beijing, Hong Kong, Jinan, Lisbon, Palermo and Stirling) independently selected asymptomatic men aged 55 y or more for assessment of prostatic volume using transrectal ultrasound (total=320 men) between 1992 and 1993. Results: Prostatic volumes in asymptomatic men were greater in Beijing than Hong Kong, Stirling and Palermo (P<0.05) and were smaller in Stirling than Beijing and Jinan (P<0.05). Conclusions: These results suggest that men from Stirling are less likely to have large prostates, but there is no evidence that men from any of the six cities are more likely to have small prostates. This small series may suggest that benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is as common in China as in European cities. The differences may be due to some cities (Beijing, Jinan and Lisbon) having a greater proportion of high values, perhaps suggesting looser selection criteria. This may indicate an abandonment of traditional Asian foods with their presumptive beneficial effect in favour of a Western dietary style.