title: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms and treatment-seeking behaviour in males over 40 years in Singapore: a community-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was performed to report the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs), bother and related quality of life (QOL) and health-seeking behaviour in men 40 years old or older in Singapore.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a community-based, cross-sectional study targeting males 40 years and above in the township of Bedok North, Singapore. An interviewer-administered questionnaire inclusive of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was used to score symptom severity objectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a total of 644 respondents. In all, 16.5% of patients with LUTS had moderate-to-severe LUTS (IPSS ≥8). The prevalence of LUTS was found to be significantly associated with age, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The impact on QOL because of LUTS was proportional to the severity of LUTS. Nocturia was associated with the most bother. Out of the respondents with moderate-to-severe LUTS, 71.7% of them did not seek help for their symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The investigators thus conclude that LUTS is common in our population and has significant impact on QOL. However, <30% of patients with moderate-to-severe LUTS sought medical attention for symptoms. We believe that steps should be taken to increase public awareness and variability of treatment options to address this problem facing the growing number of elderly men in the population.
authors.affiliation: Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: W K O
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires