Prevalence and bothersomeness of lower urinary tract symptoms in benign prostatic hyperplasia and their impact on well-being

Purpose: We established the prevalence and bothersomeness of symptoms and t heir impact on well-being in a large group of strictly selected men with lo wer urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) . Materials and Methods: Included in our study were 475 consecutive men who m et the criteria of the International Consensus Committee on BPH and voided more than 150 mi. during uroflowmetry. International Prostate Symptom Score s and quality of life score were determined. We included the 7 bothersomene ss questions of the Symptom Problem Index and the 4 of the BPH Impact Index of the American Urological Association Measurement Committee. These questi ons refer to the degree of bothersomeness caused by urinary problems and ho w they affect various health domains. Results: The symptoms with the highest prevalence based on mean scores were weak urinary stream, frequency and urgency. Urgency, nocturia and hesitanc y were the most bothersome symptoms. Patients were only discouraged from pe rforming normal daily activity when the symptom index exceeded 20. Incomple te emptying and frequency bothersomeness correlated strongly, and weak urin ary stream and hesitancy bothersomeness correlated weakly with all health a nd quality of life domains. Conclusions: Weak urinary stream, frequency and urgency were the most preva lent symptoms, while urgency, nocturia and hesitancy were the most botherso me symptoms. In contrast to weak urinary stream and hesitancy, the botherso meness of incomplete emptying and frequency was strongly associated with we ll-being.