[Validity of tests for initial diagnosis and its concordance with final diagnosis in patients with suspected benign...

To assess the validity of diagnostic tools available at the primary care setting [medical history (MH), I-PSS questionnaire, digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) evaluation] for the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

363 patients with suspected prostatic disease referred to urology outpatient clinics were included. For every subject initial BPH diagnosis was collected at each of the following sequential procedures: 1) MH; 2) I-PSS; 3) DRE; and 4) PSA. Each of these diagnostic decisions were compared to a final diagnosis (gold standard) reached after the addition of urinary sediment analysis, ultrasonographic assessment of residual volume and prostatic volume, and peak urinary flow measurement. A descriptive analysis was undertaken: validity and concordance between each diagnostic step and the gold standard was calculated.

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of diagnosis based on MH+I-PSS+DRE+PSA with respect to the gold standard were 91%, 65%, 95% and 50%, respectively. The percentage of agreement and kappa index between both diagnostic strategies were 87.9% and 0.5, respectively.

Concordance between BPH initial diagnosis based on MH+I-PSS+DRE+PSA and diagnosis based on a full range of tests was high, thus allowing recommending the use of this group of initial diagnostic procedures, which are available to the primary care physician, not only as a first diagnostic step in patients with suspected BPH, but also as a valid strategy to prevent unnecessary delay in its initial management and to facilitate appropriate referral from primary to specialized care.