Voided volumes: Normal values and relation to lower urinary tract symptomsin elderly men, a community-based study

Objectives. To determine the normal values of voided volumes and explore th e relation between bladder capacity and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men. Methods. Data were collected from 1688 men 50 to 78 years old recruited fro m the population of Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands. Measurements i ncluded self-administered questionnaires (including the International Prost ate Symptom Score), a 3-day frequency volume chart, transrectal ultrasonogr aphy of the prostate, uroflowmetry, and postvoid residual volume determinat ion. Results. The 24-hour voided volumes were independent of age (median 1506 mt ; 25th to 75th percentiles 1160 to 1950). The average volume per void and f unctional bladder capacity (FBC, defined as the largest single voided volum e) declined with advancing age. Moreover, FBC was lower in men with a reduc ed maximum flow rate (less than 15 mL/s) and independent of the postvoid re sidual volume. Multivariate analyses showed no significant effect of prosta te enlargement on the FBC. FBC was strongly related to LUTS: a low FBC coin cided with higher International Prostate Symptom Scores. Multivariate logis tic regression analyses revealed that the presence of moderate to severe sy mptoms (International Prostate Symptom Score greater than 7) was independen t of prostate volume, but dependent on age, a reduced flow rate, postvoid r esidual volume, and FBC. Conclusions. Prospective studies are needed to establish the causal relatio n between FBC and LUTS, Frequency volume charts are a valid, easy-to-use, n oninvasive method to determine FBC as an aspect of urinary tract (dys)funct ion in the evaluation of men with LUTS and to determine treatment options f or LUTS, UROLOGY 57: 1093-1099, 2001, (C) 2001, Elsevier Science Inc.