Bothersome urinary symptoms and disease-specific quality of life in patients with benign prostatic obstruction

Firstly, to describe self-reported urinary symptoms and bothersomeness, including disease-specific quality of life (QOL), in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) before and 6 months after intervention. Secondly, to identify factors which predict disease-specific QOL. Thirdly, to develop and test the reliability of an instrument to evaluate incontinence, the Linköping Incontinence Questionnaire (LIQ). Finally, to translate and test the reliability of Swedish versions of the International Prostate Symptom Score, including the bother question, the American Urological Association Symptom Problem Index (SPI) and the Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index.

Disease-specific QOL was studied in 572/720 consecutively treated patients using structured questionnaires. The reliability of the instruments was tested in 122 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or BPO.

The frequency and weak stream items of the SPI were among those that best explained the patients' disease-specific QOL both before and after intervention. Before and after intervention the prevalence of urinary incontinence, assessed using the LIQ instrument, was 46% and 16%, respectively. Symptoms and disease-specific QOL improved most in the surgery group, intermediately in the transurethral incision of the prostate/transurethral microwave thermotherapy group and least in the drug therapy group.

The frequency and weak stream items of the SPI were the factors that best explained disease-specific QOL. The prevalence of incontinence before and after intervention was higher than that previously reported.