RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Pingliang City of Gansu Province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We performed a cross-sectional randomized study of 836 men aged > or = 40 years from 26 communities of Pingliang, obtained their IPSS, measured the prostate volume by transabdominal ultrasonography, recorded the maximum flow (Qmax) by uroflowmetry, and processed the data by one-way analysis of variance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 820 subjects meeting the study criteria were included in the investigation. The men ranged in age from 40 to 83 years, averaging 61.5 years. The mean IPSS, prostate volume and Qmax were 9.3 +/- 7.8, (29.2 +/- 18.6) ml and (15.3 +/- 7.2) ml/s, respectively, all correlated with age. The prevalence of moderate-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was 46.8% (384/820). The prostate volume was > 20 ml in 63.5% (521/820), and Qmax <15 ml/s in 48.5% (398/805) of the subjects. The incidence rate of BPH, defined as IPSS >7, Qmax <15 ml/s and prostate volume > 20 ml, was 23.5% (193/820).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Among the men aged > or = 40 years in Pingliang, LUTS and prostate volume were correlated positively, while Qmax negatively with age, and the prevalence of BPH was 23.5%.</p>