Quality of life assessment before and after transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of surgical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a Malaysian population by evaluating the quality of life before and after treatment.


METHODS
The study group comprised 111 LUTS patients (age 69.56 +/- 7.94 years, mean +/- SD ) who were assessed 1 week before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment using the health-related quality of life (HRQOL-20) questionnaire, a visual analogue scale (VAS), the present pain intensity (PPI) scale and the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS).


RESULTS
Preoperatively the patients suffered more pain, severe prostatic symptoms, impaired disease-specific quality of life and a reduction in health-related quality of life. Postoperatively the patients showed a significant reduction and improvement in pain, prostatic symptoms, and disease-specific and health-related quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that the operative procedure significantly improved the overall quality of life of patients with LUTS.
Quek
K F
KF
Health Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Loh
C S
CS
Low
W Y
WY
Razack
A H
AH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011467:Prostate / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*