Do reported micturition symptoms on the American Urological Association Questionnaire correlate with 24-hour home uroflowmetry recordings?

PURPOSE

Patient subjective descriptions of micturition habits using the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index were compared with uroflowmetry recordings obtained during a 24-hour period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In a prospective study, the AUA questionnaire was given twice to 42 men. All micturitions during a typical 24-hour period were continuously recorded by a home uroflowmetry system. Daytime frequency, strength and intermittency of the stream, and nocturia were calculated from the recorded data, which were correlated with the matching questionnaire answers.

RESULTS

Except for nocturia, there was no correlation between the answers and recorded findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Men are unable to quantify correctly their own clinical status. The study results cast doubt on the validity of the self-administered AUA survey to reflect clinical micturition.