title: Age-stratified analysis of I-PSS and QoL values in spanish patients with symptoms potentially related to BPH.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of the present study was to determine age-related symptom changes using a validated Spanish International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and quality of life index (QoL) in Spanish patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2,875 patients with the clinical diagnosis of symptomatic BPH were evaluated. Data were collected during current medical practice in a national study. Patients were excluded if they had any previous prostate operation or suspicion of prostate cancer. I-PSS was self-administered and compared with the physician's global impression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  I-PSS symptoms, both voiding and storage symptoms, increased significantly with age (p<0.0001) as well as QoL (p<0.0017). A change in the I-PSS categories (minor, moderate and severe) was found with age, increasing severe symptomatic patients in the oldest groups. A significant correlation was found between I-PSS and QoL (r = 0.49, p<0.001), being this relationship linear and not significantly influenced by age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms reliable results using a validated Spanish I-PSS in a large national representative sample of Spanish patients with BPH symptoms. The age-stratified analysis showed that the natural progression of BPH with age was related to an increased symptomatology and bothersomeness, well reflected by increases in the I-PSS and QoL values. Nevertheless, the effect of symptomatology on quality of life was not strongly influenced by the age of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Catedra/Department of Urology, Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vela-Navarrete
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alfaro
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Badiella
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández-Hernando
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013030:Spain