Influence of prostatic calculi on lower urinary tract symptoms in middle-aged men

To investigate the incidence and echographic patterns of prostatic calculi, and to determine whether the presence of prostatic calculi is an associated factor for moderate lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) in middle-aged men.

Between October 2007 and June 2010, 1575 consecutive ostensibly healthy Korean men aged 40-59 years visited the health promotion center for a routine check-up and were enrolled. All men had a complete history, physical examination, and an international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire. Based on the echo patterns of the prostatic calculi by transrectal ultrasound, the men were divided in 3 groups-no calculi; type A calculi (discrete, small echoes); and type B calculi (large masses of multiple echoes, much coarser).

In total, 1563 men were included. Measurable calcifications in the prostate gland were found in 799 men (51.1%). Small calculi (type A) were found in 615 men (39.3%) and large calculi (type B) were found in 184 men (11.8%). In the multivariate analysis, old age (>50 years), obesity (body mass index >25 kg/m(2)), and large calculi (type B) were significant associated factors for higher IPSS ≥8. The likelihood of IPSS being ≥8 was related to large calculi group with a 1.784-fold increase in risk over no and small calculi (P <.001).

The presence of large prostatic calculi is a significant associated factor of moderate LUTS, whereas there was no statistical difference in IPSS analyzed between the no calculi and small calculi group.