A population based epidemiological study on benign prostatic obstruction in a suburban district of Istanbul

Objective: To determine the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) in men over 40 years of age.

Material and methods: The data of this population-based cross-sectional study was obtained from male inhabitants of a suburban Kucukcekmece district of Istanbul. Our sample consisted of 754 men over 40 years of age. A questionnaire covering data about personal habits and behavior, social and demographic characteristics, level of knowledge about LUTS and the treatment of BPH, and International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) form were applied to this sample as well. Meanwhile, urinary flow rates and serum prostatic spesific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated.

Results: Fourty-one percent of the participants had voiding complaints serious enough to interfere with their daily activities. Twelve percent of the participants reported more than one complaint. According to IPSS, the most frequent symptoms were nocturia, weak urinary stream and frequency. The degree of severity of symptoms increased significantly with aging. A negative correlation was observed between IPSS scores and maximum urinary flow rates (Qmax). Moreover, a positive association was found between IPSS and PSA, while a significant negative association was observed between PSA and Qmax values. The lowest prevalence (4.1%) was found when BPO was characterized with IPSS>19, Qmax<10 ml/sec and (Quality of Life) score≥3 and the highest prevalence (34.9%) was detected when only patients with IPSS scores higher than 7 were defined as patients with BPO.

Conclusion: The prevalence rates revealed a wide variation from 4.1% to 34.9% according to different criateria used as surrogate measures for BPO.