Relationship between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms measured by International Prostate Symptom Score and Prostate Volume
Abstract
Introduction: Incidence and progression rate of lower urinary tract symptoms rises steeply with age; the most significant cause is believed to be Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. Subjective assessment with International Prostate Symptom Score/Quality of Life and objective measurement with Ultrasonography can be used for assessing the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms.
Materials and Methods: This was an observational study done at National Academy of Health Sciences, Bir Hospital from October 2020 to February 2021 which included ninety men above the age of 50 years presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms in Urology Unit. The initial evaluation was done with history taking, digital rectal evaluation to exclude tumor and brief neurological examination followed by scoring with International Prostate Symptom Score and International Prostate Symptom Score/Quality of Life score. The patients were advised for Transabdominal Ultrasonography to look for prostate volume and residual volume of urine.
Results: In this study 82.22 % of patients had International Prostate Symptom Score of more than 19 and 47.8 % of patients had quality of life score of 5 suggesting that most had severe symptoms. Prostate volume showed mild correlation with International Prostate Symptom Score (r=0.166) and with age group (r=0.088).
Conclusion: In the present study, prostate volume and lower urinary tract symptoms severity showed mild correlation suggesting that larger prostate volumes do not necessarily mean more severe symptoms. Hence International Prostate Symptom Score can be a better tool for assessing patients with lower urinary tract symptoms due to Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy and planning further treatment.