Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in men aged 45-79 years: a population-based study of 40 000 Swedish men.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the age-specific prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among Swedish men, the intercorrelations between different symptoms, and to assess quality of life and health-seeking behaviour among men with LUTS.


METHODS
In 1997, an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, together with other questions about lifestyle, was mailed to all men aged 45-79 years living in two counties in Sweden; the analyses included 39 928 men.


RESULTS
Overall, 18.5% and 4.8% of the men were moderately and severely symptomatic; the prevalence of at least one symptom was 83%. LUTS were strongly age-dependent, with 1.8% of severe symptoms among men aged 45-49 years and increasing to 9.7% among those 75-79 years old. Frequent urination was the most common symptom among men aged < 70 years and nocturia among those aged >70 years. Symptoms like hesitancy, poor flow and intermittency were highly correlated with each other (Spearman coefficients 0.56-0.60). There was a high correlation between the IPSS and a poor score for quality of life resulting from the bothersomeness of LUTS (r = 0.70). Among symptomatic subjects, 36% reported a poor quality of life (fairly bad, very bad or terrible). Only 29% of symptomatic subjects (IPSS >7) reported that they had been diagnosed previously for their urinary problems, and only 11% received medication for that.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the prevalence of LUTS in Sweden is high, the percentage of men whose quality of life is substantially affected is much lower.
Andersson
Swen-Olof
SO
Department of Urology, Centre for Assessment of Medical Technology, University Hospital Orebro, Orebro, Sweden.
Rashidkhani
Bahram
B
Karlberg
Lars
L
Wolk
Alicja
A
Johansson
Jan-Erik
JE
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000453:epidemiology*