A critical review of recent clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms.
BACKGROUND
We provide an overview of the quality of recent clinical clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for non-neurogenic male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and summarize the recommendations for their diagnosis, assessment, and treatment.


METHODS
We systematically searched recent (2008-2013) CPGs for non-neurogenic male LUTS. Eligible CPGs were assessed and appraised using Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool by a CPG-appraisal group. The appraisal scores for each guideline were summarized according to each domain and in total. A recommendation summary was made across the guidelines for diagnostics, conservative management, medical, minimally invasive therapy, and surgical management.


RESULTS
A total of 8 guidelines were considered. According to AGREE II appraisal of guidelines, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), American Urological Association (AUA) and European Association of Urology (EAU) consistently scored high on the guideline domains assessed. Recommendations on diagnostics, conservative management, medical, and surgical management were consistent among the top 3 guidelines. However, we noted a discrepancy in recommending minimally invasive therapy as an alternative management of moderate to severe or bothersome non-neurogenic male LUTS secondary to benign prostatic enlargement (BPE); the NICE guideline, in particular, does not recommend using minimally invasive therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The quality of recent CPGs on non-neurogenic male LUTS was appraised and summarized. The guidelines from NICE, AUA and EAU were considered highly compliant to the AGREE II proposition for guideline formation and development.
Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Michael Erlano
ME
Chua
Department of Preventive and Community Medicine, St. Luke's College of Medicine, Manila, Philippines;
Jonathan
J
Mendoza
Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Manuel
M
See
Comprehensive Pelvic Floor Center, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Ednalyn
E
Esmena
Clinical Information Management Service, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Dean
D
Aguila
Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Jan Michael
JM
Silangcruz
Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Buenaventura Jose
BJ
Reyes
Institute of Urology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Manila, Philippines;
Saturnino
S
Luna
Department of Urology, National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Manila, Philippines.
Marcelino
M
Morales