title: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in a Chinese population, and the correlation with uroflowmetry and disease perception.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a population of Chinese men, and its correlation with uroflowmetry and disease perception.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male volunteers above 40-year old were recruited in the community. Assessment with International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, and a quiz on prostatic disease knowledge with 12 true-false-type questions were performed. Correlation of IPSS with uroflowmetry results and prostatic disease knowledge was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 319 men were recruited for the study, with a mean age of 62 ± 8 years. About 69.3 % of them had moderate-to-severe symptoms on IPSS. A statistically significant correlation was found between IPSS and Q max (r = -0.260, p < 0.001), IPSS and quality of life (r = -0.172, p = 0.002), and IPSS and post-void residuals (r = 0.223, p < 0.001). About 53.0 % of subjects had less than 4 correct answers for the 12 true-false questions. Negative correlation was noted between the number of correct answers and IPSS (r = -0.185, p = 0001). In other words, for the better knowledge on prostatic diseases, the lower IPSS was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a cohort of community-dwelling Chinese men, a significant portion of the population had moderate-to-severe LUTS. While uroflowmetry parameters were found to correlate with IPSS, the degree of knowledge on prostatic diseases also shared a statistically significant correlation with IPSS. This has an implication on the role of urological health education in the future.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, yeechihang@surgery.cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Chi-Hang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yee
authors.forename: Joseph K M
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hon-Chung
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Eddie S Y
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Simon See-Ming
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Chi-Fai
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception; D015995:Prevalence; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D053448:Prostatism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014563:Urodynamics