title: Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in indigenous and non-indigenous women in Eastern Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), their impact on quality of life, and their association with socioeconomic and lifestyle factors among indigenous and non-indigenous women in Eastern Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 376 indigenous women and 509 non-indigenous women aged over 18 years were interviewed concerning LUTS in the recent 6 months using International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indigenous women had a higher prevalence of one or more LUTS than non-indigenous women (44.9%vs. 31.2%). Indigenous women had a significantly higher prevalence of urgency (7.7%vs. 4.3%, p = 0.024), straining to void (6.1%vs. 3.3%, p = 0.036), and nocturia (37.2%vs. 24.8%, p < 0.001) than non-indigenous women. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of impaired quality of life between indigenous and non-indigenous women (33.8%vs. 31.2%). Lower educational level, alcohol consumption, betel quid chewing, and cigarette smoking, and not difference in race, had significant effect on a higher prevalence of bothersome LUTS in indigenous women than non-indigenous women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Indigenous women with lower educational level and specific lifestyle risk factors have a higher prevalence of LUTS than non-indigenous women in Taiwan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fei-Chi
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Hann-Chorng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology