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How important are mens lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and their impact on the quality of life (QOL)?

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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the extent to which symptom severity and related factors contribute to the explained variance of the quality of life (QOL) of men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: Data from 480 men awaiting urological assessment were collected by questionnaires shortly after referral by their general practitioners in 1997–2000. The World Health Organization’s QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-bref), International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), Symptom Problem Index (SPI), International Continence Society Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia questionnaire (ICS-BPH), the Sandvik Incontinence Severity Index, and BPH Specific Impact on Activity (BSIA) were used.

Results: Regression analyses with WHOQOL-bref scores as dependent variables (physical, psychological, social relations, environmental domains, as well as overall QOL and general health) showed that symptom severity predicted only physical health. The severity of urinary incontinence was predictive of all domains except general health. Sexual function was predictive of all domains. Regression coefficients were close to zero. The explained variance of WHOQOL-bref scores was low (5–17%).

Conclusions: The WHOQOL-bref might be too comprehensive to identify associations between specific symptom-related factors. Alternatively, our results indicate that LUTS suggestive of BPH and LUTS-associated factors are not very important determinants of QOL.

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Abbreviations

BPH:

benign prostatic hyperplasia

BSIA:

BPH-specific impact on activity

HRQOL:

health-related quality of life

ICS-BPH:

International Continence Society Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Study Questionnaire

I-PSS:

International Prostate Symptom Score

LUTS:

lower urinary tract symptoms

QOL:

quality of life

SPI:

Symptom Problem Index

WHOQOL-bref:

World Health Organization’s QOL Questionnaire, short version

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health and Primary Health Care, University of Bergen, Kalfarveien 31, 5018, Bergen, Norway

    J. Haltbakk, B. R. Hanestad & S. Hunskaar

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  1. J. Haltbakk
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  2. B. R. Hanestad
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  3. S. Hunskaar
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Correspondence to J. Haltbakk.

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Haltbakk, J., Hanestad, B.R. & Hunskaar, S. How important are mens lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and their impact on the quality of life (QOL)?. Qual Life Res 14, 1733–1741 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-3232-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-005-3232-x

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