SIMILARITY OF THE AMERICAN-UROLOGICAL-ASSOCIATION SYMPTOM INDEX AMONGMEN WITH BENIGN PROSTATE HYPERPLASIA (BPH), URETHRAL OBSTRUCTION NOT DUE TO BPH AND DETRUSOR HYPERREFLEXIA WITHOUT OUTLET OBSTRUCTION

Objective To compare the specificity of the American Urological Associ ation (AUA) Symptom Index for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) versu s other urodynamically verified micturitional dysfunction in men. Pati ents and methods Fifty-seven consecutive men who had been referred for video-urodynamic evaluation of voiding symptoms were evaluated. The p atients were divided into three groups: (i) BPH group (n=24); (ii) non -BPH obstructed group (n=20; nine bladder neck obstruction, 11 bulbous urethral stricture); and (iii) detrusor hyper-reflexia group: detruso r hyperreflexia without outlet obstruction (n=13). Results The mean AU A symptom score for the BPH group was 18.9 (range 7-28). The mean scor e for the 20 non-BPH obstructed group was 17.6 (range 4-28) and the me an score for the 13 men with detrusor hyper-reflexia was 20.5 (range 1 2-27). There was no statistical difference in the AUA symptom score am ong the three groups. Conclusion The AUA Symptom Index does not specif ically identify BPH or bladder outlet obstruction. The index cannot di fferentiate the site of obstruction as noted by the similar scores amo ng men with BPH from those with bladder neck obstruction and urethral strictures. Moreover, The AUA Symptom Index scores are similar between men with voiding symptoms secondary to bladder dysfunction and bladde r outlet obstruction.