European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

SEASONAL VARIATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROSTATE SYMPTOM SCORE IN PATIENTS WITH LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS IN CENTRAL SRI LANKA

Anurudda Udaya Bandara Pethiyagoda*, Kalyani Pethiyagoda, Sethma Dinushi Wijesinghe, Kasuni Samadhi Gunatilake, Vathma Samani Sunilrathne and Yauni Wathsala Karunarathna

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the association between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and climatic patterns in Central Sri Lanka, where the tropical climate is dominated by various topographical features, Southwest and Northeast monsoons and regional scale wind regimes. Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study performed among the patients attending the General Urology Clinic at Teaching Hospital Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from 4th January 2019 to 20th December 2021. International Prostate Symptom Score was used to assess the severity of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Climatic patterns were tracked using the monthly mean values of rainfall, maximum relative humidity at night and maximum daytime temperature. Data analysis was performed using simple linear regression and graphical representation. Results: There were 308 patients in the study group and 74.1% were males while 16.2% of the patients were female. Variation of the individual storage symptoms and the mean total score shows comparatively higher mean values in the middle of the Southwest Monsoon. However, all weather factors show minimum mean values in this season. From simple linear regression analysis between each weather parameter and each symptom, no statistically significant correlation was identified. Conclusion: Out of seven considered symptoms, variation of storage symptoms is mostly affected by the seasonal variation of climate according to the graphical analysis. It shows a negative correlation to the variation of climatic elements. According to simple linear regression, there is no statistically significant correlation between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and climatic factors in the study group. However, the number of first visit patients has increased in October, the month with highest rainfall.

Keywords: central Sri Lanka, IPSS, LUTS, monsoon, seasonal variation, tropical climate.