Prospective Survey of Lower Urinary Tract Symptom and the Commonest Risk Factor among Urological Patients in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the age-specific prevalence, severity of LUTS and the commonest risk factor among Nigerian patients. Methods: A prospective, non-randomized study of 360 men was carried out at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, southwestern Nigeria between 1st of January, 2012 and 31st of December, 2014. The International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS) questionnaire was used for the assessment of LUTS and quality of life [QoL]. Results: The mean age of the study population was 64±12.8 years and men in the age group 60-69 years had the highest prevalence of 27.8%. Eighty-two and half percent [82.5%] of the men had moderate to severe symptoms (IPSS score > 7). The prevalence of storage symptoms was significantly higher than that of voiding symptoms in all age groups. LUTS was not associated with smoking or body mass index, p>.05. Men with diabetes had 1.640[95%CI=0.895-3.005] and hypertension 1.071 [95%CI=0.773-1.484] higher those without and also poorer QoL. Known alcoholic patients were less likely to develop LUTS and poor QoL than non alcoholics, odd ratio [OR] was 0.774[95%CI=0.573-1.047]. The age of patient was also significantly associated with good QoL with patients aged >65 years having good QoL compared to those aged<65years (p<0.05). The OR for developing poor QoL for patients aged˂65years was 1.331[95%CI=1.063-3.543] while for aged>65 years, it was 0.686[95%CI=0.470-1.001]. Conclusion: LUTS was commonest in the 7th decade of life and alcohol consumption was the commonest but protective risk factor in southwestern Nigeria. Majority of the patients presented with moderate to severe symptoms.