RESUMEN
PROBLEM: Although benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly Thai men the prevalence in the community and its natural history is unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of symptomatic BPH and its natural history. To determine the health related behaviors which have an impact on the voiding symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 879 elderly men aged > or = 60 years from communities around Siriraj Hospital were studied. The International Prostate Symptom Scores (IPSS) and Quality of Life (QOL) scores were evaluated in the participants at the beginning of the study and 1 year later. The overall assessment, complications and health related behaviors were also evaluated. RESULT: The prevalence of symptomatic BPH in the community was 41.3 per cent. In terms of overall assessment at 1 year follow-up, symptomatic BPH patients (IPSS 8-35), the rate of "improved", "same" and "worse" was 10.6, 70.2 and 19.2 per cent respectively. The complication rate was about 10 per cent. Three quarters of the elderly men had health related behavior at risk. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of symptomatic BPH was high. Its natural history was unpredictable and some BPH symptoms may be influenced by their behaviors.