Progression of null or mild lower urinary tract symptoms indicative of benign prostatic hyperplasia after 2 years of follow-up in non-treated men aged 40 years or older.

Objectives: After screening men aged 40 years or older for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) indicative of benign prostatic hyperplasia over the years 1999 to 2000, non-treated men with an initial International Prostate Symptoms Score (I-PSS) equal to or lower than 2 were assessed 2 years later for symptom progression.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1999 on 1804 men aged 40 years or older who were living in Madrid. In a telephone interview sociodemographic information was requested and LUTS assessed using the I-PSS. Of 975 men with no LUTS or lower than 2 in this baseline survey, 463 were re-interviewed in 2001. The dependent variable was the change from null/mild to moderate/severe LUTS produced over 2 years.

Results: Over the 2-year period, the mean increase in I-PSS score was 2.20 (95% CI, 1.89-2.51). The cumulative incidence of progression from asymptomatic/mild to moderate/severe disease was 9.94% (95% CI, 7.53-13.00). In the multivariate logistic regression model men who lived in a rural setting (OR, 2.70; P = .01) and armed forces, qualified agriculture and fishing workers (OR, 4.11; P = .05) were independently associated with progression. Age and alcohol intake were also found to interact; intake of 0.01-25.99 g/day in men older than 50 years (OR, 0.28; P = .008) was related to a lower frequency of progression than the same alcohol intake in men younger than 50 years (OR, 2.03; P = .380).

Conclusions: After the 2-year period, the incidence of symptom progression was 10% in men aged 40 years or older with an initial I-PSS equal to or lower than 2.