The Lifetime Risk and Prognosis of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome in the Middle-Aged Chinese Males

Knowledge is limited about the lifetime risk of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) occurrence in Chinese middle-aged males and the prognosis of CPPS patients with and without treatment. Noninstitutionalized Chinese males aged 40 to 81 years were enrolled in this study from a total of 76 local communities across 30 provinces of China. Information about the occurrence of CPPS, symptom relief, and previous treatment was collected. Based on completed answers to specific questions about self-reported and physician-diagnosed CPPS, the lifetime risk of CPPS occurrence was 25.3% (1,091 out of 4,315) in Chinese males aged 40 to 81 years. Over 77% of patients with CPPS had received treatment. The symptom relief rate was not significantly different between the treatment (57.3%, 142/248) and nontreatment (50.1%, 422/843) groups. Regardless of whether patients had received medical treatment, engagement in sedentary work and regular alcohol consumption had a significant negative influence, while marriage had a positive influence, on the prognosis of CPPS. A good prognosis could be achieved without treatment for some cases of CPPS, while others required a timely symptom-orientated treatment using adequate medications combined with lifestyle adjustment and follow-up.