Comparative analysis of lower urinary tract symptoms and bother in both sexes

To compare the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Japanese men and women and to analyze the impact on bother in an age-stratified manner.

A consecutive series of 2328 men (mean age 49.5 years) and 1735 women (mean age 48.3 years) who underwent multiphasic health screening at our institution completed the self-administered International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire with quality-of-life (QOL) assessment.

A significant age-related increase in the IPSSs and QOL scores was observed in both sexes. Age-stratified analysis showed that the total IPSS, voiding symptoms, and QOL score were significantly greater in men than in women, and the storage symptoms were not significantly different between both sexes. The percentage with moderate to severe symptoms (IPSS 8 or greater) among those younger than 40, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 years old or older was 7.9%, 12.0%, 23.7%, 32.0%, and 48.7%, respectively, in men and 6.5%, 8.3%, 12.1%, 13.8%, and 31.8%, respectively, in women. Within each category of the severity of IPSS, the distribution of the QOL score was very similar in both sexes, showing no sex difference in the impact of LUTS on bother.

These data showed a similar age-related development of LUTS in both sexes, except that voiding symptoms were more prevalent among men. The impact of LUTS on bother was also comparable between men and women.