Association of hypertension with symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
We determined whether the intensity of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms and arterial hypertension are associated.


METHODS
Baseline data from a large sample of men seeking treatment for BPH symptoms were analyzed retrospectively. BPH symptom intensity (assessed by the International Prostatic Symptom Score [I-PSS] or urinary flow rate [Qmax]) and blood pressure were determined in 9,857 patients with BPH. Normotension was defined as a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or less, the absence of the diagnosis hypertension and the lack of antihypertensive medication (in 4,725). Hypertension was concomitantly defined as a diastolic blood pressure of greater than 90 mm Hg (in 1,727), being diagnosed with hypertension (1,950) or the current prescription of anti-hypertensive drugs (3,360 patients).


RESULTS
When age and presence of hypertension were used as the independent explanatory variables, each year of age contributed 0.13 points and measured hypertension 1.60 points to I-PSS as the dependent response variable. Similar results were obtained with Qmax as the dependent response variable. In a logistic regression procedure using age, I-PSS and Qmax as the independent explanatory variables, each year of age and each I-PSS point significantly increased the risk of being hypertensive by 5.3% and 5.0%, respectively, while Qmax did not yield a statistically significant contribution to that risk.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that a significant, age independent association exists between BPH symptoms and hypertension. This finding indicates a common pathophysiological factor for both disease states such as increased sympathetic activity.
Michel
Martin C
MC
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. m.c.michel@amc.uva.nl
Heemann
Uwe
U
Schumacher
Helmut
H
Mehlburger
Ludwig
L
Goepel
Mark
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology