[Is dysuria an objective or subjective concept?]

A prospective study was carried out in 100 consecutive male patients coming to consultation in the department. These men, whose average age was 65 years (32-82), and who had come for various reasons, answered a questionnaire on the quality of their urine flow, which was rated on a scale ranging from 1 to 4. The results of flow rate measurements were classified in 4 categories according to the maximum flow rate and to the volume of micturation, which always was greater than 150 ml. The comparison of the subjective appreciation and of the objective value showed frequent discrepancies (over- or under-evaluation). These results were analysed according to various parameters, and in particular to the patients' age. It thus appears that one third of the patients only have an accurate appreciation of the quality of their micturation.