Incidence, prevalence and management of lower urinary tract symptoms in men in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the incidence, prevalence and management of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia, reported in UK general practice.


METHODS
All clinical information relating to LUTS and its treatment was assessed for men aged > or = 45 years and registered on the UK General Practice Research Database (GPRD) at some time between 1992 and 2001. Incidence and prevalence were derived from the GPRD population. Secular trends in the management of LUTS were examined from prescribing rates and the intervals between first symptoms, first treatment and surgery or catheterization.


RESULTS
The incidence of reported LUTS showed a strong linear increase with age. The prevalence increased from 3.5% for men aged 45-49 years to > 30% for men aged > 85 years. Between 1992 and 2000 there was a five-fold increase in the proportion of time with LUTS when men were receiving medical treatment. This was accompanied by a progressive decrease in the intervals between first symptoms and first drug treatment, and a significant increase in the intervals from first symptoms or first treatment to surgery or catheterization. Treated men received surgery or catheterization significantly later than those receiving no drug treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
There has been a significant increase in the use of medical therapy for LUTS over the last decade. The accompanying postponement of surgery/catheterization is likely to be a result, at least in part, of successful earlier medical treatment and the treatment of a greater proportion of symptomatic men.
Logie
John
J
Department of Pharmacoepidemiology and Public Health, Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.
Clifford
Gary M
GM
Farmer
Richard D T
RD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy