Lower urinary tract symptoms in the danish population: a population-based study of symptom prevalence, health-care seeking behavior and prevalence of treatment in elderly males and females.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of LUTS in the elderly Danish population. Furthermore to evaluate the quality of life, the health-care seeking behavior and the prevalence of treatment with relation to LUTS.


METHODS
A mailed questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 8700 men and 1000 females above 50-years. The questionnaire included five demographic questions, the I-PSS and questions concerning previous physician contact and treatment with relation to LUTS.


RESULTS
The questionnaire was returned by 61.5% of the males and 47.7% of the females. The median I-PSS was 4 in males and 3 in females. Overall 28% of males and 20% of females had significant LUTS (I-PSS>7). A significant increase in the total burden of symptoms with increasing age was found in males whereas a clear age-trend was not found in females. Overall 9.2% of males and 8.2% of females had seen a physician within the last two years for voiding problems. A high proportion of subjects with moderate or even severe symptoms had not seen a physician within two years due to voiding problems. Of males 13.3% had previous been or were currently being treated for voiding problems while the corresponding number in females was 10.9%. These subjects had significantly more symptoms than untreated age-matched subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower urinary tract symptoms are common in elderly Danish males and females. Overall the same pattern for health-care seeking behavior with regard to LUTS is seen in males and females and the overall treatment prevalence is similar. For both genders it is worth noting that a substantial proportion of subjects with a high symptom burden had not visited their physician within two years and further that subjects who have been treated for LUTS have a higher symptom levels than their untreated peers.
Nørby
B
B
Department of Urology, Fredericia Hospital, Dronningensgade 97, 7000 Fredericia, Denmark. b-noerby@dadlnet.dk
Nordling
J
J
Mortensen
S
S
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy