title: [Benign prostate hyperplasia. Need to evaluate quality of life in the therapeutic process].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To relate the symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) to their repercussions on quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multi-centred, observational, prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Men with BPH in 2000-2003. Inclusion criteria were: agreeing to take part, being aged 50-79, and having moderate symptoms evaluated by means of the IPSS questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previous treatment for BPH and having a chronic or disabling illness that might affect perception of quality of life. The presence of irritative and obstructive symptoms was appraised.
  
  
  METHODS
  The IPSS questionnaire appraising predominant symptoms and, through the last question, quality of life was self-administered. Descriptive statistics were worked out and differences in proportions of the different groups were analysed by the chi2 test, with differences taken as significant at P < .05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We got 536 replies, with average age 66.2. Nycturia was the most common symptom, suffered by 88.1% of patients. A total of 256 patients (47.8%) had irritation as main clinical symptom, and 280 (52.2%), obstruction. On analysing repercussions on quality of life, it was found that obstructive symptoms were worse tolerated: 65.7% versus 9.4% of the group with irritation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In treating BPH, we must bear in mind preferences of patients. They tolerate obstructive symptoms worse, and these are a criterion for referral to specialists and even surgery.
authors.affiliation: EAP Tárraco. Institut Català de la Salut. Tarragona. España. elsmua@comt.es
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bobé Armant
authors.forename: M Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Buil Arasanz
authors.forename: Ana Isabel
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Allué Buil
authors.forename: Amàlia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morro Grau
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maxenchs Esteban
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gens Barberà
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires