The effects of treating lower urinary tract symptoms on health-related quality of life: a short-term outcome.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effects of treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) on the health-related quality of life (physical/functional, mental, social and global aspect), pain and prostatic symptoms.


METHODS
The study consisted of 123 LUTS patients on medical treatment (alpha blockers) and 52 who underwent surgical treatment (TURP). The patients were assessed one week before and three months after medical and surgical treatment by using the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL-20), the Visual Analogue Scale of Pain (VAS), the Present Pain Intensity (PPI) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) inventories and questionnaires.


RESULTS
Prior to treatment, the surgically treated patients were found to suffer more pain, severe prostatic symptoms, bothersomeness and deterioration in health-related quality of life than the medically treated patients. Postoperatively, the surgical group showed a significant reduction and improvement in all aspects of pain, prostatic symptoms, bothersomeness and overall health-related quality of life, as compared with the medication group. The mean ages of the surgical and medical treated groups were 69.56 years (SD=7.94 years) and 64.62 years (SD=7.94 years) respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The result showed that operative procedure had significantly improved the overall health-related quality of life of LUTS patients compared to those on medical treatment.
Quek
K F
KF
Health Research Development Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Loh
C S
CS
Low
W Y
WY
Razack
A H
AH
Chua
C B
CB
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists