ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To compare symptoms of prostatism and their causes between two occupation groups with different working environment and position: one group of tarsi drivers working mainly in sitting position under constant stress and another group of barbers working mainly in standing position. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 405 taxi drivers and 110 barber participated in prostatic disease screening program. 93 patients with prostatic symptom were also enrolled in this study. All participants underwent IPSS self-assessment, digital rectal examination, urinary flow rate, transrectal ultrasound and prostatic cancer screening test (PSA, and if necessary, prostatic biopsy). RESULTS: IPSS were similar in taxi drivers group and patient group, whereas it was significantly lower in barbers group. Mean maximal flow rate was similar in both taxi drivers and patient groups, but significantly higher in barbers group. Incidence of abnormal voiding pattern was significantly higher in taxi drivers group compared to other groups. TRUS showed higher incidence of calcification and ejaculatory duct abnormality in taxi drivers group compared to other groups. Prostatitis and prostatodynia combined were more prevalent in taxi drivers group than in barbers groups. CONCLUSIONS: Taxi drivers working in a constrained environment of prolonged sitting exposed to a lot of stress, pelvic floor tension and abstinence of urine had more diverse voiding symptoms and greater prevalence of prostatitis and prostatodynia than barbers group.