Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Among Individuals Aged 50 Years and Over and Its Effect on the Quality of Life in a Semi-Rural Area of Western Turkey.

OBJECTIVES

The number of individuals with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is increasing as the average age of the men in the community increases. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of LUTS and to assess the quality of life in men aged 50 years and older in Sivrihisar.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted in men aged over 50 years and included 450 subjects. The quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 Health-Related Quality of Life Scale and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) to assess the presence and severity of LUTS. The statistical analysis was conducted using Mann-Whitney U-tests, χ tests and logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of LUTS was 78.7%, and the prevalence of moderate to severe LUTS was 32.4%. Comparative analyses between the individuals who had moderate to severe LUTS and those who did not indicated that individuals aged 60 and over, those with a primary school education or below, those without social insurance, those who were current smokers, those having any chronic disease diagnosed by a physician, those with a history of using diuretics, and those with a family history of prostate or bladder disease were associated with a higher prevalence of LUTS. In our study, the quality of life is adversely affected by an increased severity of LUTS.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of LUTS was found to be high in the men in this region of Turkey, and the degree of LUTS is inversely correlated with the quality of life.