Use of the international prostate symptom score in the assessment of severity of lower urinary tract symptoms in men / Uso do escore internacional dos sintomas prostáticos para avaliação da gravidade dos sintomas urinários em homens

ABSTRACT

Prevalence of urinary symptoms are very common among men over 40 years due to an increase in prostate volume known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Several studies have shown a decline in quality of life for patients with severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Objective: To investigate the severity of LUTS among men aging over 40 years concerning the feasible impairment in quality of life. Material and Methods: 117 men over 40 years who had attended at the urology outpatient unit were interviewed. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was used to evaluate the severity of LUTS. Results: The most frequent complaint of the patients was the frequent waking at night with the urge to urinate (of these subjects 44,4% reported waking more than twice a night to urinate). 73,5% of the patients had mild symptoms, and 6% had severe symptoms. 37,2% of these subjects over the age of 61 years had moderate symptoms, and 14% had severe symptoms. 82,9% of patients was satisfied with their urinary condition. 54,2% of subjects having moderate symptoms and all subjects with severe symptoms reported some level of dissatisfaction. Conclusion: There is a close relation between the scores for urinary condition and patients? satisfaction. The International Prostate Symptom Score assess the severity of urinary symptoms and their impairment on quality of life as an important step toward an individualized treatment for patients.