[Changes in the voiding condition with aging in elderly males--results of a field survey for prostatic diseases]

We investigated changes in the voiding condition with aging in 1476 males 50 years and older, who participated in a field survey for prostatic diseases conducted from 1982 to 1991 in Hokkaido. Voiding conditions were evaluated subjectively with a symptom index (weak stream, intermittency, nocturia, urge incontinence), and objectively with maximum flow rate. Digital rectal examination (DRE) revealed 10.3% (572 participants) of total evaluable participants to have moderate or marked enlargement of the prostate. The incidence of enlargement of the prostate apparently increased with aging. Subjective urinary symptoms, both obstructive and irritative, increased in the incidence and degree with aging. The maximum flow rate and maximum flow rate-nomogram also became worse with aging the incidences participants having urinary symptoms or decreased maximum flow rate increased in parallel with the size of the prostate on DRE. For each size of the prostate on DRE, the incidence of participants having urinary symptoms increased with aging. The maximum flow rate showed a similar tendency, decreasing with aging, irrespective of the size of the prostate. These results indicate that aging as well as the size of the prostate may affect the voiding condition in males aged 50 years and older.