Some Clinical Aspects of Uroflowmetry in Elderly Males:A Population Survey

Abstract

A random sample of 200 males aged 50 years or more was selected from the National Register in order to investigate various aspects of spontaneous uroflowmetry and to estimate the frequency of prostatism and symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction. All in all the data from 112 persons were analysed. The prevalence of prostatism was found to be 17% (95% confidence limits 11-26%), while 88% (95% confidence limits 83-95%) experienced various degrees of symptoms. Only few associations between single symptoms and uroflowmetry variables were demonstrated. However, statistically significant correlations were revealed between obstructive and total symptom scores on one hand and maximum and average flow rates on the other hand. As the correlations were modest and a considerable overlap of uroflow variables in persons with and without prostatism were proved, the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of maximum flow rate as well as other uroflow variables were low in the screening for prostatism. In conclusion uroflowmetry appears inefficient to confirm a clinical impression of prostatism.

Relationship of Flow Rate with Symptoms, Quality of Life and Other Clinical Parameters in Patients with LUTS Suggestive of BPH

“…Max flow rate has been shown to be significantly associated with symptom scores in some studies [14, 15], while other investigations have shown only weak correlations [4, 16]. In these latter studies, a clear distinction was shown between QoL and storage symptoms on the one hand and objective data and voiding symptoms on the other.…”

“…Moreover, free-flow evaluation alone does not allow to discriminate bladder outlet obstruction from impaired detrusor contractility [3]. These limitations notwithstanding, uroflowmetry has in recent years gained a relevant role in the evaluation of LUTS, owing to its noninvasiveness, rapidity, and simplicity of execution [4]. In this paper, we describe the uroflowmetry data of a selected number of QUIBUS (QUality of life Investigated in BPH patients with Urinary Symptoms) patients (n = 366) and their relationships with age, prostate volume, and the IPSS and ICS-BPH scores.…”

Factors Influencing Nonabsolute Indications for Surgery in Patients With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Suggestive of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Analysis Using Causal Bayesian Networks

“…However, those two studies had different definitions of treatment success-the former strictly defined success as 50% improvement in IPSS, Qmax, and PVR [ 19 ], whereas the latter defined it as fair, good, or excellent on a subjective satisfaction scale (full scale: poor/fair/good/excellent) [ 19 ]. It is already known that UFM parameters and voiding symptoms are not well correlated [ 20 ].…”

Association of Health-Related Quality of Life and Benign Prostatic Enlargement

“…Several authors have suggested that symptom severity and prostate size are minimally correlated [32, 33, 34, 35]. However, recent community studies have suggested stronger relationships that are comparable to correlations found in other disease areas, where relationships are well accepted [3, 12].…”