European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

DISEASE RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS

Anurudda Udaya Bandara Pethiyagoda*, Jinali Pabodha Manchanayake, Kalyani Pethiyagoda

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are increasingly prevalent in middle-aged and old men. LUTS of the majorities of middle-aged men are usually attributed to benign prostatic enlargement. A measure that addresses patients‟ most bothersome symptoms and bothersome score may lead to improve outcomes and patient satisfaction to the treatment. The objectives of this study were to assess patient-reported most bothered symptom and bothersome score in men with LUTS. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted among patients with lower urinary tract symptoms at surgery clinic, Teaching hospital, Peradeniya. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 714 patients to assess their symptoms associated. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) was used for this. It is based on the answers to seven questions concerning urinary symptoms and one question concerning quality of life. Data was analysed by chi square test in SPSS version 20. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 62.37±13.15 years (16- 94 years). There was a significant association between bothersome score and IPSS groups (mild, moderate, severe) based on total IPSS score (p< 0.05). The most prevalent bothersome symptoms of these patients were urgency (42.5%), nocturia (21.7%), and sensation of incomplete voiding (19.8%). Furthermore, patients reported that they experienced these symptoms more than half of the time; incomplete emptying (35.8%), increased frequency (34%), intermittency (36.1%), urgency (37.5%), weak stream (54%), straining (28%), nocturia (17.2%). Conclusions: Most bothersome symptoms were urgency and nocturia. Eventhough the frequency of occurrence of these symptoms were less; in particularly nocturia.

Keywords: Lower urinary tract symptoms, International Prostate Symptom Score, Bothersome score, Bothersome symptom, Sri Lanka.