Seasonal Variation of Urinary Symptoms in Korean Men with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine seasonal variations in urinary symptoms in Korean men with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH).


METHODS
Records were obtained from a consecutive database of LUTS/BPH patients from March 2010 to February 2014. A total of 1,185 patients were suitable for analysis. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetric parameters, prostate volume-related parameters, and serum prostate-specific antigen levels were evaluated.


RESULTS
Based on the month during which they were examined, patients were categorized into cold, hot, or intermediate season groups. The IPSS score was significantly different between the cold and the hot season groups (17.3±6.9 vs. 16.1±7.4, respectively; p=0.020). Storage symptom scores were significantly aggravated in the cold (6.8±3.3; p=0.030) and intermediate groups (6.9±3.5; p=0.032) compared with the hot season group (6.3±3.4), with this observation primarily driven by the individual scores for frequency and urgency. Quality of life (QOL) scores were worse in the cold compared with the hot season group (4.0±1.1 vs. 3.8±1.1, respectively; p=0.012). There were also significant differences between the cold and hot season groups in voided volume (278.7±148.5 vs. 255.9±145.1, respectively; p=0.034) and postvoid residual volume (26.4±37.6 vs. 32.2±41.0, respectively; p=0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
Different urinary symptoms and uroflowmetric parameters were associated with changes in seasons. QOL and IPSS parameters might be worse in cold weather seasons compared with hot weather seasons.
Department of Urology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ho Chul
HC
Choi
Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jong Kyu
JK
Kwon
Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Joo Yong
JY
Lee
Department of Urology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jang Hee
JH
Han
Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hae Do
HD
Jung
Department of Urology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang Su
KS
Cho
Lower urinary tract symptoms; Prostatic hyperplasia; Seasons