[Comparison of symptom degree and frequency to quantity the lower urinary tract symptoms]

(BACKGROUND). To evaluate urinary symptoms, the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), which queries about frequency of symptoms, has been recently used in a clinical setting. However, there are men who are not satisfied with their voiding conditions in spite of a low symptom score. In such cases, their dissatisfaction may not be appropriately expressed by querying about frequency of the symptoms alone. We investigated whether the degree or the frequency of the obstructive symptoms correlated with the symptom-related problems. (METHODS). We analyzed obstructive symptoms in 739 males 40 years old and older who participated in a field survey for prostatic diseases. (RESULTS). Although not only frequency but degree of "hesitancy", "intermittency during urination", "strain or pushing" or "weak stream" correlated with the trouble, the correlations were higher in frequency than in degree. However, since some participants felt bothered when they expressed some degree of the symptoms alone but not frequency of the symptoms, evaluation of symptom degree may be helpful to identify such participants. Of the participants who answered "none" for frequency of the symptoms, some reported "having a mild symptom" in degree. This indicated that in recognition of symptoms degree may precede frequency. If the obstructive symptoms are very mild, men may express the symptoms as changes in degree, but not as changes in frequency. (CONCLUSIONS). These results suggested that evaluation of symptom degree is necessary for some participants.