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Title: [Quality of life assessment of the male with benign prostate hypertrophy].
Author: Nekić VC, Tiljak H, Petricek G, Soldo D, Nekić G, Buljan N.
Journal: Acta Med Croatica; 2007 Feb; 61(1):49-55. PubMed ID: 17593641.
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION: Benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) is prostate enlargement caused by the proliferation of the glandular, fibrous and muscular parenchyma of periurethral formations. BPH is a histological diagnosis with clinical manifestation of the lower urinary system symptoms. AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the patients' quality of life and to identify BPH symptoms that do and do not influence the patients' quality of life. Assessment was made by use of IPSS questionnaire (International Prostate Symptom Score) and patients' own assessment. METHOD: A prospective study of the BPH patients' quality of life was conducted at 5 family medicine practices. Statistical analysis was performed by use of SPSS software. RESULTS: Data analysis showed the mean patient age to be 65.4 +/- 7.1 (X +/- SD) years. Medicamentous therapy was used in 86 and surgical therapy in 14 patients. The mean symptom duration was 8 +/- 4.3 (X +/- SD) years. Considering correlation of the quality of life with particular disease symptoms, results of this study showed only some BPH symptoms to influence the quality of life. The feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, weak urine stream and nocturnal frequency symptoms showed a statistically significant correlation with quality of life. Symptom score showed a statistically significant correlation with patients' quality of life assessment, i. e. the lower the quality of life assessment, the higher the symptom score. DISCUSSION: The influence of only some disease symptoms on the patients' quality of life observed in this study could be explained by the small sample size, unfavorable distribution according to symptom presence, and treatment effects. CONCLUSION: Most of our BPH patients had mild symptoms, however, in some patients symptoms were rather pronounced, requiring medicamentous or even surgical treatment. This prospective study included 100 patients from 5 family medicine practices, who filled out the IPSS questionnaire. Data analysis showed the mean patient age to be 65.4 years and mean duration of disease symptoms 8 years. Statistical analysis yielded no statistically significant difference in symptom duration among patients with mild, moderate and severe BPH symptoms. Considering correlation of the quality of life with particular disease symptoms, study results showed only some BPH symptoms to influence the quality of life. The feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, two urination intervals of less than 2 hours, weak urine stream and nocturnal urination frequency showed a statistically significant correlation with quality of life. The patients with mild BPH symptoms assessed their quality of life better than patients reporting moderate or even severe BPH symptoms. As BPH symptoms are significantly present in the male population over age 50, general/family practitioners should take in consideration the diagnosis of BPH, because this condition influences the quality of life as well sexual function in this male population age group.

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