Analysis of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Associated with Prostate Findings in Occupational Taxi Drivers and Office Workers in Uijeongbu, Korea

ABSTRACT

PUROPOSE: To analyze lower urinary tract symptoms associated with prostate findings in occupational taxi drivers compared to office workers in Uijeongbu, Korea. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among drivers and office workers in Uijeongbu, Korea. All participants filled out the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire and the age, career, height and body weight were also recorded. They had uroflowmetry (UFM), transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and prostatic cancer screening testing (PSA). We evaluated the parameters and compared them between the two groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age, career and BMI between the two groups (p<0.01). For each group, the IPSS was closely related to the maximal flow rate (Qmax) (p<0.01). The mean value of the IPSS was 13.53+/-7.70 in the taxi drivers and 9.71+/-5.72 in office workers; therefore, the IPSSs showed a difference between the two groups (p=0.041). However, there were no significant differences among the other parameters between two groups. The value of Qmax was not significantly different in the comparisons between the two groups (p=0.973). CONCLUSIONS: Although the IPSS in taxi drivers was higher than in office workers, the objective parameters studied were not significantly different between the two groups. Therefore, there was no clinical evidence of higher morbidity associated with prostate abnormalities in taxi drivers compared to office workers.