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

Abstract

The presence of ten different micturition symptoms was investigated by means of a patient-administered questionnaire in 355 males and females over 50 years of age referred for non-urological complaints, and compared to those of 131 patients selected for transurethral prostatic resection (TURP) due to symptomatic benign prostatic hypertrophy. Each symptom was evaluated further by a subsequent ?bother? question and the questionnaire also contained a global ?bother? question. Each of the symptoms was significantly more frequent and pronounced in the TURP group than in the control group. Moderate or severe symptoms were found in 25% of males and 18% of females in the control group as compared to 92% in the TURP group. In the control group most symptoms increased with age regardless of sex, and this was most pronounced for weak stream and hesitancy. Males in the control group had a significantly higher total symptom score than females (5.3 vs 4.3; p < 0.05). This difference was, however, mainly due to higher scores in weak stream, hesitancy 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 seems sufficient in the evaluation of the individual patient's concern.