Symptoms and quality of life versus age, prostate volume, and urodynamic parameters in 565 strictly selected men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia

Objectives. To investigate the associations of symptoms and quality of life with age, prostate volume, and urodynamic parameters in a large group of s trictly selected men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Methods. The 565 consecutive men met all the criteria of the International Consensus Committee on benign prostatic hyperplasia and voided more than 15 0 mL during uroflowmetry. The residual volumes and prostate sizes were esti mated. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and quality-of-life score were collected and urodynamic evaluations performed. Results. The prostate volume and obstruction grade were not, but low detrus or contractility and low bladder capacity were, significantly associated wi th symptoms. Except for nocturia, older men presented with lower voiding sc ores on the IPSS. The presence of a residual urine volume hardly influenced patients' symptoms and duality of life. Men with an unstable bladder score d higher on frequency, urgency, and nocturia on the IPSS, but the symptom i ndex and quality-of-life score were not affected by the presence of an unst able bladder. Because of the high variability and subjective interpretation of symptoms and because urodynamic parameters may have opposite implicatio ns than symptoms and vice versa, associations were still weak. Conclusions. Except for nocturia, older men had lower voiding scores on the IPSS. Prostate volume and obstruction grade were not, but low detrusor con tractility and low capacities were, associated with the symptom index. The presence of an unstable bladder and/or residual volume was hardly associate d with the symptom index or quality-of-life score. Although we used a large group of strictly selected men, the associations were still weak. UROLOGY 57: 695-700, 2001. (C) 2001, Elsevier Science Inc.