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The Association of Abuse and Symptoms Suggestive of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Results from the Boston Area Community Health Survey

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the effect of reported sexual, physical, or emotional abuse on the symptoms suggestive of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and to determine the effect of race/ethnicity on these patterns.

Methods

The Boston Area Community Health (BACH) survey used a multi-stage stratified cluster sample to randomly sample 5,506 adults aged 30–79 from the city of Boston. BACH recruited 2,301 men (700 Black, 766 Hispanic, and 835 White). Interviewers administered questions approximating the National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index (CPSI), and symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS were measured by the definition of perineal and/or ejaculatory pain and CPSI pain score of 4+. Questions about previous abuse were obtained from a validated self-administered questionnaire during the home visit. Logistic regression was used to determine the effect of abuse on the likelihood of a man having symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS.

Results

The prevalence of symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS was 6.5%. Men who reported having experienced sexual, physical, or emotional abuse had increased odds (1.7–3.3) for symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS. Previous abuse increased both the pain and urinary scores from the CPSI.

Conclusion

Symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS are not uncommon in a community-based population of men. For men presenting with symptoms suggestive of CP/CPPS, clinicians may wish to consider screening for abuse.

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Acknowledgments

BACH was funded by National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH, NIDDK) U01DK56842.

Conflict of Interest

None disclosed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urologic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Jim C. Hu MD, MPH

  2. General Medicine Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Mary McNaughton-Collins MD, MPH & Michael J. Barry MD

  3. New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA, USA

    Carol L. Link PhD & John B. McKinlay PhD

Authors
  1. Jim C. Hu MD, MPH
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  2. Carol L. Link PhD
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  3. Mary McNaughton-Collins MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jim C. Hu MD, MPH.

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Hu, J.C., Link, C.L., McNaughton-Collins, M. et al. The Association of Abuse and Symptoms Suggestive of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Results from the Boston Area Community Health Survey. J GEN INTERN MED 22, 1532–1537 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0341-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-007-0341-y

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