LONGITUDINAL OBSERVATIONS ON NORMAL AND ABNORMAL VOIDING IN MEN OVER THE AGE OF 50 YEARS

A cohort of 200 men over the age of 50 years was selected at random. I nitially 112 men participated. After 5 years 61 were participating, an d 2 years later 34 men still had no voiding problems, while 19 had had treatment for prostatism. A history was obtained and all 112 had symp tom analysis and uroflow examination. The uroflow variables Qmax, Qave , Qmax-time, Q''corrected'', volume and the ratio Qmax/Qmax-time were recorded together with the symptom score and subjective evaluation. Af ter 5 and 7 years all primary data were reviewed in the 61 and 34 men respectively, while a full history was obtained in the rest. The 3 set s of data were evaluated separately as 3 cross-sectional investigation s and as paired data sets by means of non-parametrical statistical ana lysis. Comparing the 3 sets of data longitudinally, significant differ ences were found in Qmax, Qave, Qcor and Acc. A correlation analysis s howed that Qmax, Qave, Q''corrected'' and volume decreases significant ly with advancing age in asymptomatic men, while no correlation with a ge was found in the 19 treated men. On the basis of the 93 men, untrea ted for 7 years, nomograms of Qmax, Volume and Acc were constructed us ing 2.5, 25, 50, 75 and 97.5% percentiles in 5-year groups. Likewise, a nomogram on symptom score was constructed on the basis of the 82 men , asymptomatic and untreated for 7 years. In conclusion, uroflow in su bjectively normal men over the age of 50 years shows increasing abnorm ality with advancing age. At the same time elderly men tolerate a cons iderable amount of symptoms of infravesical obstruction. The severity of symptoms increased with advancing age, but differently in persons l ikely and not likely to need operation.