A Novel Low-Cost Uroflowmetry for Patient Telemonitoring

Abstract

Uroflowmetry (UF) is a crucial guideline-recommended tool for men with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Moreover, UF is a helpful decision-making tool for the management of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In the last few years, telemedicine and telehealth have increased exponentially as cost-effective treatment options for both patients and physicians. Telemedicine and telehealth have been well positioned during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent healthcare system overload and to ensure adequate management of patients through screening, diagnosis, and follow-up at home. In the present manuscript, the main characteristics and performance of a novel and low-cost device for home-based UF have been analyzed. The simple weight-transducer method has been applied to perform UF. An inexpensive load cell connected to a 24 bit analogic digital converter (ADC) sends data to a cloud server via SIM card or home Wi-Fi. Data are processed and shown in graphics with both volume and flow rate as a function of time, allowing for measurement of average flow rate, maximum flow rate, voided volume, and voiding time. A numerical algorithm allows for filtering of the dynamic effect due to the urine gravity acceleration and for removing the funnel to simplify the home measurement procedure. Through an online platform, the physician can see and compare each UF data. The device’s reliability has been validated in a first laboratory setting and showed excellent performance. This approach based on domiciliary tests and an online platform can revolutionize the urologic clinic landscape by offering a constant patient cost-effective follow-up, eliminating the time wasted waiting in the office setting.

Urinary MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Urological Cancers: A Systematic Review

“…To overcome these limitations, numerous studies have been conducted to identify new biomarkers, and several miRNAs have been shown to be involved in the development and progression of PCa [ 65 , 66 , 67 ]. In the selected studies, we found that umiRNAs could be used as valuable tools in differentiating PCa from benign rising of PSA.…”

The causal relationship between sarcopenic obesity factors and benign prostate hyperplasia

“…In clinical diagnostics, uroflowmetry is a guidelinerecommended pivotal tool for evaluating BPH obstructive symptoms, with the severity of these symptoms dictating the need for surgical intervention (56). With the advancement of portable home devices, the acquisition of UF data has become increasingly accessible and cost-effective (57). Comprehensive UF information aids in the precise assessment of LUTS symptoms.…”

Evaluation of bi-directional causal association between periodontitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia: epidemiological studies and two-sample mendelian randomization analysis

“…The evaluation of obstructive symptoms can be initially determined through the assessment of prostate volume and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) ( Foo, 2019 ). In addition, uroflowmetry is also a crucial diagnostic indicator in assessing BPH ( Pandolfo et al, 2023 ). The etiology of BPH is multifactorial, with aging and hormonal imbalances being widely acknowledged as primary contributors ( Devlin et al, 2021 ).…”