Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Scandinavia: A Hospital Questionnaire on Pretreatment Evaluation and Treatment

Abstract

In order to describe the present status in Scandinavia of evaluation and treatment of patients presenting with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a questionnaire was mailed to 261 relevant hospitals. In total 76% of the departments answered. Several differences between hospital types in each country were revealed, as well as differences between countries. Generally, symptom scores and urodynamics were used more often in university hospitals as compared to other types of hospitals. Symptom scores were most popular in Denmark and Sweden, while uroflowmetry generally was employed in Denmark and Finland, but less frequently in Sweden and Norway. The highest frequency of prostatic surgery was noted in Denmark. Watchful waiting accounted for the handling of 30% of the BPH patients in Finland and Sweden, in contrast to only 15% in Denmark.