LOWER URINARY-TRACT SYMPTOMS - A COMPARISON OF MICTURITION SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS SCHEDULED FOR TRANSURETHRAL PROSTATIC RESECTION AND OUTPATIENTS OF BOTH SEXES REFERRED FOR NON-UROLOGICAL COMPLAINTS

The presence of ten different micturition symptoms was investigated by means of a patient-administered questionnaire in 355 males and female s over 50 years of age referred for non-urological complaints, and com pared to those of 131 patients selected for transurethral prostatic re section (TURP) due to symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy. Each s ymptom was evaluated further by a subsequent ''bother'' question and t he questionnaire also contained a global ''bother'' question. Each of the symptoms was significantly more frequent and pronounced in the TUR F group than in the control group. Moderate or severe symptoms were fo und in 25% of males and 18% of females in the control group as compare d to 92% in the TURF group. In the control group most symptoms increas ed with age regardless of sex, and this was most pronounced for weak s tream and hesitancy. Males in the control group had a significantly hi gher total symptom score than females (5.3 vs 4.3; p < 0.05). This dif ference was, however, mainly due to higher scores in weak stream, hesi tancy and post-micturition dribbling in males. Females tended to have more urgency. The symptom scores and the associated ''bother'' scores were highly correlated, indicating that each symptom carried the same potential to bother the patient. The single global ''bother'' question gave an adequate reflection of the combined ''bother'' scores, and se ems sufficient in the evaluation of the individual patient's concern.