Treatment status and progression or regression of lower urinary tract symptoms in a general adult population sample.

Purpose: We report progression and regression of lower urinary tract symptoms in a population based cohort by race/ethnicity, gender, age and lower urinary tract symptom medication use.

Materials And Methods: The BACH (Boston Area Community Health) Survey enrolled 5,502 participants 30 to 79 years old of black, Hispanic or white race/ethnicity. The 5-year followup interviews were completed by 1,610 men and 2,534 women for a conditional response rate of 80%. Population weighted estimates of lower urinary tract symptoms severity were assessed using the AUASI (American Urological Association symptom index) and analyzed using multivariate models.

Results: Symptom progression (increase in AUASI score of 3 or more points) was reported by 21% to 33% of participants and regression (decrease 3 or greater) by 30% to 44% of participants, most commonly women and Hispanic participants. Age and higher body mass index were associated with progression (p <0.01), but not with regression. Lower urinary tract symptom medication use at baseline only was associated with improved symptoms scores 5 years later (multivariate adjusted OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.28-7.51, compared to nonusers), whereas using medication at baseline and followup was associated with similar rates of progression and regression as observed among participants not using lower urinary tract symptom medication at either point.

Conclusions: Lower urinary tract symptoms persisted at followup for approximately half of the population experiencing symptoms at baseline, including many men and women using lower urinary tract symptom medications. However, overall lower urinary tract symptom medication use and surgical treatment appeared beneficial for symptom control at 5-year followup. Age and body mass index were associated with symptom worsening, and Hispanic ethnicity was associated with greater symptom fluctuation. Clinicians should consider the higher likelihood of lower urinary tract symptom progression for older or heavier patients, and monitor responsiveness to lower urinary tract symptom medication.