Quality of life in elderly men with aging symptoms and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)

The aims of this study were to investigate quality of life (QoL) due to physical and psychological changes occurring in elderly men and to identify associated factors between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and aging male symptoms (ADAM).

This was a case-control study whereby 200 elderly men were recruited from the community and the Urology and Geriatrics ambulatories. Subjects were asked to fill out the Aging Male Symptoms Scale (AMS), World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF and -OLD, and IPSS questionnaires. Participants were classified in two groups according to IPSS: group I (moderate to severe symptoms) and group II (mild symptoms).

The AMS scale and both QoL questionnaires of group I showed significantly worse median scores in all parameters. The average somatic and sexual subscore was significantly higher in group I (P < 0.0005). The social and environmental domains presented the most significant differences (P < 0.0005) in both questionnaires, and the mean of the WHOQOL-OLD score was significantly lower in group I (P < 0.0005).

Moderate to severe ADAM and LUTS impact significantly all parameters of HRQOL and generic QoL proposed by the WHO. There was correlation between severity of LUTS and severity of the following ADAM: depression, feeling burnt out, decline of feeling of general well-being, joint and body complaints, insomnia, weakness of muscles, feeling that the peak had passed, decrease of sexual performance, and decrease of morning erections.