title: Primary care evaluation and treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
abstract: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect 50% to 90% of men aged 50 years or older. Primary care physicians should be knowledgeable about the diagnosis and management of this condition. The authors performed detailed PubMed searches using the terms lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia, benign prostatic enlargement, and overactive bladder. The authors then reviewed the relevant literature on the evaluation and treatment of men with LUTS. According to the literature, accurate recognition of LUTS is predicated on a focused history and physical examination, as well as serum prostate-specific antigen measurement and urinalysis. For patients with mild symptoms, watchful waiting with ongoing monitoring and lifestyle modifications may be appropriate. For patients with moderate to severe symptoms, pharmacologic therapy is effective. When substantial LUTS persist despite appropriate pharmacologic therapy, specialty urologic evaluation and treatment is warranted.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Urology at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia nhale@camc.org.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hale
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Urology at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia.
authors.forename: Kellen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Urology at the Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lohri
mesh_terms: D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*