Urological symptoms among 23,240 men in the general danish population – concerns about symptoms, their persistence and influence on primary care contacts

Figures & data

Figure 1. Study cohort.

Table 1. The top half shows some of the characteristics of the study sample. The bottom half provides an overview of self-reported urological symptom experiences with regard to the three covariates and GP contact.

	Study sample		Number of urological symptoms		Number of urological symptoms with GP-contact
	n	(%)	n	(%)	n	(%)
Study sample
Overall	22 318	(100.0)	23 070	(100.0)	5 632	(24.4)
Age
20–39	5 311	(23.8)	2 345	(10.2)	232	(9.9)
40–59	8 875	(39.8)	7 570	(32.8)	1 293	(17.1)
60–79	7 531	(33.7)	11 924	(51.7)	3 695	(31.0)
80+	601	(2.7)	1 231	(5.3)	412	(33.5)
Number of urological symptoms. Referred to as urological symptom burden
0	8 942	(40.1)	–	–	–	–
1	7 334	(32.9)	7334	(31.8)	844	(11.5)
2–3	5 161	(23.1)	11809	(51.2)	3103	(26.3)
4–5	788	(3.5)	3340	(14.5)	1371	(41.0)
≥6	93	(0.4)	587	(2.5)	314	(53.5)
Time since first experience of the symptom. Referred to as symptom persistence
<1 month			4 436	(19.2)	833	(18.8)
1–3 months			1 245	(5.4)	237	(19.0)
3–6 months			1 511	(6.5)	306	(20.3)
>6 months			15 878	(68.8)	4 256	(26.8)
Influence on daily activities
Not at all			5 769	(25.0)	691	(12.0)
Slightly			7 079	(30.7)	1 286	(18.2)
Moderate			4 881	(21.2)	1 436	(29.4)
Quite a bit			3 353	(14.5)	1 286	(38.4)
Extremely			1 988	(8.6)	933	(46.9)
Concern for the symptom
Not at all			8 999	(39.0)	1 101	(12.2)
Slightly			6 540	(28.3)	1 550	(23.7)
Moderate			3 705	(16.1)	1 210	(32.7)
Quite a bit			2 360	(10.2)	1 032	(43.7)
Extremely			1 466	(6.4)	739	(50.4)

Table 2. Number of urological symptoms and number of symptoms with GP-contact stratified on age (above/below 60 years).

	Number of symptoms N = 23 070			Number of symptoms with GP-contact			Number of symptoms <60 years N = 9 915			Number of symptoms with GP-contact <60 years			Number of symptoms ≥=60 years N = 13 155			Number of symptoms with GP-contact ≥ =60 years
Symptom	n	(%)	CI 95%	n	(%)	CI 95%	n	(%)	CI 95%	n	(%)	CI 95%	n	(%)	CI 95%	n	(%)	CI 95%
Night-time urination	11055	(47.9)	47.3-48.6	1866	(16.9)	16.2-17.6	5339	(53.8)	52.9-54.8	470	(8.8)	8.0-9.6	5716	(43.5)	42.6-44.3	1396	(24.4)	23.3-25.5
Erectile dysfunction	4103	(17.8)	17.3-18.3	1317	(32.1)	30.7-33.5	1134	(11.4)	10.8-12.1	352	(31.0)	28.3-33.7	2969	(22.6)	21.9-23.3	965	(32.5)	30.8-34.2
Difficulty in emptying the bladder	3222	(14.0)	13.5-14.4	969	(30.1)	28.5-31.7	1363	(13.7)	13.1-14.4	261	(19.1)	17.1-21.2	1859	(14.1)	13.5-14.7	708	(38.1)	35.9-40.3
Frequent urination	2465	(10.7)	10.3-11.1	706	(28.6)	26.9-30.4	1243	(12.5)	11.9-13.2	208	(16.7)	14.7-18.8	1222	(9.3)	8.8-9.8	498	(40.8)	38.0-43.5
Stress incontinence	235	(1.0)	0.9-1.1	85	(36.2)	30.0-42.4)	78	(0.8)	0.6-1.0	21	(26.9)	16.9-37.0	157	(1.2)	1.0-1.4	64	(40.8)	33.0-48.5
Urge incontinence	1117	(4.8)	4.6-5.1	310	(27.8)	25.1-30.4	364	(3.7)	3.3-4.0	69	(19.0)	14.9-23.0	753	(5.7)	5.3-6.1	241	(32.0)	28.7-35.3
Incontinence without stress/urge	305	(1.3)	1.2-1.5	108	(35.4)	30.0-40.8	93	(0.9)	0.7-1.1	27	(29.0)	19.6-38.4	212	(1.6)	1.4-1.8	81	(38.2)	31.6-44.8
Pain/burning when urinating	363	(1.6)	1.4-1.7	148	(40.8)	35.7-45.9	210	(2.1)	1.8-2.4	72	(34.3)	27.8-40.8	153	(1.2)	1.0-1.3	76	(49.7)	41.7-57.7
Blood in urine	116	(0.5)	0.4-0.6	80	(69.0)	60.4-77.5	52	(0.5)	0.4-0.7	32	(61.5)	47.9-75.2	64	(0.5)	0.4-0.6	48	(75.0)	64.1-85.9
Blood in semen	89	(0.4)	0.3-0.5	43	(48.3)	37.7-58.9	39	(0.4)	0.3-0.5	13	(33.3)	17.9-48.8	50	(0.4)	0.3-0.5	30	(60.0)	45.9-74.1

Table 3. Odds Ratios (ORs) for GP contact for all reported urological symptoms (n = 23 070) with regard to symptom concern, influence on daily activities, symptom persistence and symptom burden.

	n	OR crude	CI (95%)	OR adj.	CI (95%)
Time since first experience of the symptom. Referred to as symptom persistence*
<1 month	4 436	1.00	ref	1.00	ref
1–3 months	1 245	1.02	(0.83-1.25)	0.87	(0.70-1.07)
3–6 months	1 511	1.10	(0.91-1.33)	0.76	(0.62-0.92)
>6 months	15 878	1.58	(1.41-1.78)	1.23	(1.09-1.40)
Influence on daily activities**
Not at all (ref.)	5 769	1.00	(1.00-1.00)	1.00	(1.00-1.00)
Slightly	7 079	1.63	(1.45-1.83)	1.42	(1.26-1.60)
Moderate	4 881	3.06	(2.72-3.45)	2.33	(2.05-2.64)
Quite a bit	3 353	4.57	(4.02-5.20)	3.13	(2.73-3.59)
Extremely	1 988	6.50	(5.59-7.56)	3.99	(3.40-4.68)
Concern for the symptom**
Not at all (ref.)	8 999	1.00	–	1.00	–
Slightly	6 540	2.22	(2.00-2.47)	1.83	(1.64-2.05)
Moderate	3 705	3.53	(3.14-3.97)	2.68	(2.36-3.05)
Quite a bit	2 360	5.58	(4.90-6.34)	3.98	(3.46-4.58)
Extremely	1 466	7.33	(6.27-8.58)	4.80	(4.05-5.68)
Number of urological symptoms. Referred to as urological symptom burden*
1	7334	1.00	(1.00-1.00)	1.00	(1.00-1.00)
2–3	11809	2.74	(2.50-3.00)	2.25	(2.04-2.47)
4–5	3340	5.35	(4.65-6.17)	3.90	(3.35-4.54)
≥6	587	8.84	(6.25-12.52)	5.86	(4.06-8.46)

Bold indicates P-value <0.05*Adjusted for general concern, concern for the symptom, influence on daily activities, age, urological burden and persistence.

** Adjusted for general concern, urological burden, persistence and age.

Table 4. Odds Ratios (ORs) for GP contact for reported urological symptoms with regard to symptom concern, influence on daily activities and symptom persistence, stratified on symptom type. N = number of symptoms.

	Night-time urination N = 11424			Erectile dysfunction N = 4289			Pain/burning when urinating N = 384			Frequent urination N = 2597			Stress incontinenceN =256
	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)
Time since first experience of the symptom. Referred to as symptom persistence*
<1 month	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
1–3 months	0.86	0.72	(0.49-1.06)	0.64	0.61	(0.40-0.93)	1.12	1.02	(0.49-2.12)	0.83	0.75	(0.52-1.08)	0.17	0.14	(0.01-1.40)
3–6 months	1.16	0.79	(0.58-1.09)	0.74	0.70	(0.50-0.99)	0.55	0.36	(0.14-0.91)	1.22	0.80	(0.55-1.15)	0.61	0.71	(0.21-2.45)
>6 months	1.76	1.34	(1.15-1.57)	1.26	1.24	(1.01-1.52)	1.05	0.82	(0.46-1.44)	2.34	1.35	(1.05-1.74)	1.14	0.90	(0.37-2.17)
Influence on daily activities**
Not at all (ref.)	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
A little bit	1.83	1.53	(1.31-1.78)	1.05	1.10	(0.85-1.43)	1.41	1.07	(0.54-2.10)	1.49	1.43	(0.96-2.13)	1.93	1.81	(0.56-5.89)
Somewhat	3.72	2.63	(2.23-3.10)	1.64	1.66	(1.31-2.11)	2.79	2.24	(1.06-4.74)	3.24	2.61	(1.76-3.87)	2.76	3.68	(1.02-13.24)
Quite a bit	5.17	3.15	(2.62-3.80)	2.30	2.33	(1.84-2.94)	4.97	3.88	(1.60-9.41)	5.76	4.09	(2.70-6.18)	4.58*	3.75	(1.07-13.17)
Extremely	7.15	3.88	(3.03-4.97)	2.91	2.90	(2.29-3.66)	6.19	4.23	(1.49-11.96)	10.20	7.20	(4.38-11.82)	18.72	14.27	(3.02-67.49)
Concern for the symptom**
Not at all (ref.)	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
A little bit	2.61	1.95	(1.71-2.24)	1.17	1.22	(0.97-1.53)	2.23	1.96	(0.86-4.50)	2.11	1.73	(1.28-2.32)	1.60	1.26	(0.53-2.98)
Somewhat	4.56	3.09	(2.61-3.65)	1.60	1.67	(1.33-2.10)	4.37	4.18	(1.70-10.29)	3.73	2.79	(2.02-3.83)	2.07	1.86	(0.67-5.15)
Quite a bit	6.63	3.93	(3.20-4.83)	2.28	2.35	(1.88-2.93)	8.75	7.95	(3.01-21.03)	6.37	4.15	(2.87-6.00)	4.37	4.63	(1.34-15.98)
Extremely	9.35	5.13	(3.82-6.88)	2.79	2.82	(2.24-3.55)	12.49	11.33	(3.61-35.60)	12.44	7.88	(4.85-12.79)	21.25	18.28	(3.63-92.10)
	Urge incontinence N = 1184			Incontinence without stress/urge N = 328			Difficulty in emptying the bladder N = 3365			Blood in urine N = 125			Blood in semen N = 94
	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)	OR	OR adj.	CI (95%)
Time since first experience of the symptom. Referred to as symptom persistence*
<1 month	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
1–3 months	1.53	1.29	(0.66-2.52)	0.94	1.06	(0.23-4.79)	0.72	0.70	(0.45-1.07)	2.74	2.59	(0.72-9.32)	2.00	1.44	(0.33-6.31)
3–6 months	1.36	1.13	(0.62-2.06)	0.78	0.61	(0.19-1.99)	0.78	0.68	(0.47-0.98)	***			4.00	2.91	(0.62-13.61)
>6 months	2.81	2.50	(1.62-3.84)	2.27	2.17	(1.07-4.43)	1.58	1.22	(0.98-1.53)	1.76	1.37	(0.44-4.30)	2.43	2.06	(0.67-6.35)
Influence on daily activities**
Not at all (ref.)	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
A little bit	1.21	1.13	(0.60-2.13)	1.50	1.54	(0.45-5.31)	1.17	1.09	(0.84-1.42)	2.18	2.02	(0.64-6.40)	1.32	1.97	(0.50-7.82)
Somewhat	2.11	1.74	(0.93-3.28)	3.19	3.12	(0.89-10.87)	1.92	1.62	(1.24-2.13)	1.94	1.99	(0.50-7.91)	4.79	8.42	(1.61-44.11)
Quite a bit	3.33	2.59	(1.36-4.94)	2.43	2.22	(0.63-7.85)	3.16	2.57	(1.91-3.46)	2.33	1.49	(0.26-8.46)	4.79	6.39	(0.74-55.32)
Extremely	5.45	3.79	(1.90-7.56)	3.94	2.97	(0.81-10.84)	5.13	3.99	(2.69-5.92)	2.59	2.50	(0.49-12.79)	9.58	16.39	(1.09-245.94)
Concern for the symptom**
Not at all (ref.)	1.00	ref	–	1.00	Ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–	1.00	ref	–
A little bit	1.31	1.18	(0.74-1.87)	1.05	0.93	(0.41-2.11)	1.26	1.24	(0.99-1.55)	1.75	0.88	(0.20-3.96)	2.26	2.26	(0.31-16.54)
Somewhat	1.81	1.48	(0.90-2.42)	0.65	0.53	(0.22-1.29)	1.79	1.72	(1.34-2.21)	1.90	1.09	(0.21-5.59)	7.00	10.88	(1.20-98.75)
Quite a bit	2.97	2.09	(1.23-3.55)	1.80	1.57	(0.65-3.80)	3.87	3.51	(2.60-4.74)	3.35	2.44	(0.50-11.88)	7.00	16.09	(1.36-190.58)
Extremely	6.92	5.12	(2.84-9.25)	2.29	1.63	(0.63-4.23)	3.83	3.34	(2.20-5.06)	2.10	2.49	(0.43-14.41)	9.33	38.39	(2.19-673.98)

Bold indicates P-value <0.05.

* Adjusted for general concern, concern for the symptom, influence on daily activities, age, urological burden and symptom persistence.

** Adjusted for general concern, urological symptom burden, symptom persistence and age.

*** Analysis not possible due to few observations.