title: Quality of life assessment before and after transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Health Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Quek
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Razack
mesh_terms: 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*