Experience with uroflowmetry in evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Uroflowmetry is a non- invasive urodynamic tool which is widely used for most of the patients with suspected lower urinary tract dysfunction. The severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) can be measured reliably by using a number of validated questionnaires, like International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). This study was designed to determine the relationship between the parameters of uroflowmetry and symptom severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with LUTS caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia were evaluated by using uroflowmetry, IPSS, prostate volume estimation. The correlations between these parameters were quantified by means of Spearman correlation co-efficients. RESULTS: Statistically significant correlations were found between the IPSS and results of uroflowmetry (peak flow rate and average flow rate) and post void residual urine. No correlation was found between the IPSS and results of prostate volume measurements. CONCLUSION: There was a positive correlation between peak flow rate, as was measured by uroflowmetry and lower urinary tract symptom severity.