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Home screening for hematuria: results of a multiclinic study
E M Messing1, T B Young, V B Hunt
1Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison.
Insights
Home screening for hematuria (blood in urine) in men over 50 is feasible and economical. This approach can aid in the early detection of urinary tract cancers and other serious diseases.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Hematuria, or blood in urine, is a common symptom of urinary tract tumors.
- Early detection of malignancies is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based hematuria screening program for early detection of urological diseases in older men.
- To determine the prevalence of hematuria and associated urological conditions in a healthy male population aged 50 and above.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 1,340 healthy men aged 50+ participated in a 14-day home screening study.
- Participants used chemical reagent strips to test for hematuria in their urine daily.
- Urological evaluations were conducted for men testing positive for hematuria.
Main Results:
- 21.1% of participants (283/1340) experienced at least one episode of hematuria.
- Of those evaluated, 8.3% (16/192) were diagnosed with urological cancers.
- Additionally, 24.5% (47/192) had other treatable hematuria-causing conditions.
Conclusions:
- Home hematuria screening is a practical and cost-effective method for identifying urological cancers and other diseases in men over 50.
- The study demonstrates the potential of widespread hematuria screening to improve early diagnosis and treatment of significant urological conditions.
Abstract:
The majority of urinary tract tumors cause bleeding in the urine. A program designed to detect hematuria before it is grossly apparent may contribute to earlier detection and more successful treatment of these malignancies. To test this hypothesis a hematuria home screening study was conducted. A total of 1,340 healthy men 50 years old or older used chemical reagent strips for 14 consecutive days to test the urine. Of the men 283 (21.1%) had at least 1 episode of hematuria. Of the 192 hematuria positive men who received a complete urological evaluation 16 (8.3%) had urological cancers and 47 (24.5%) had other hematuria-causing diseases that required immediate treatment. The quantity and frequency of hematuria were not related to disease severity. A hematuria home screening regimen is feasible and economical, and may promote the early detection of urinary tract cancers and other diseases in men more than 50 years old.