PREVALENCE OF LOWER URINARY-TRACT SYMPTOMS IN KOREAN MEN IN A COMMUNITY-BASED STUDY

Objective: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms was determin ed in Korean men aged 50 and over. Methods: A community-based, epidemi ologic study was performed in Yonchon County, Korea. The Korean versio n of the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) was used to asse ss the severity of urinary symptoms in a representative sample of 514 men. Results: Nocturia and weak stream were the most prevalent symptom s and urgency was the least. Overall, 23.2% of the men were moderately to severely symptomatic: 17.7% in the age group of 50-59 years, 23.3% in that of 60-69 years and 35.3% in that of 70 years and over. The pr oportion of severely symptomatic men approximately doubled with each d ecade of age. The 'quality of life' score showed a high correlation wi th the I-PSS. Our estimation indicated that in 1995 approximately 800, 000 Korean men had moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms tha t were likely to be associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Conc lusions: The prevalence of moderate to severe lower urinary tract symp toms in Korean men is substantially similar to that in Caucasians.