Do rapid emotional thermometers correlate with multidimensional validated structured questionnaires in low-risk prostate cancer?

PURPOSE: To promptly identify mental suffering in low-risk prostate cancer (LRPC) patients, vulnerable to over- and undertreatment, we evaluated the correlation of rapid emotional thermometers (ET) with multidimensional validated structured questionnaires. METHODS: At diagnosis, consecutive LRPC patients underwent five ET domains: emotional suffering, anxiety, depression (DT), revolt and need for help and multidimensional questionnaires: beck anxiety inventory (BAI), beck depression inventory (BDI), beck hopelessness scale, SF36 (physical functioning PF, role limitations due to physical health RP, bodily pain BP, general health perceptions GH, vitality VT, social functioning SF, role limitations due to emotional problems RE and general mental health MH), international index of erectile function and international prostate symptom score (IPSS). RESULTS: Among 30 included patients, mean age 67.4 y (52-74), 20 days after the diagnosis (15-30), mean time to obtain ET 27 s (15-57) and all questionnaires 36.7 min (31-49), ETs showed moderate/strong Spearman correlation among themselves. DT domain displayed the best correlation to most of the multidimensional validated structured questionnaires: moderate to BDI, SF-36 (PF, GH, VT, SF, RE, MH) and IPSS and strong to BAI. CONCLUSION: DT revealed the best correlation to validated structured questionnaires of diverse dimensions with clear potential for quick screening of patients with psychological suffering and in need of further evaluation and support.

Is metabolic syndrome truly a risk factor for male lower urinary tract symptoms or just an epiphenomenon?

To define whether the association of male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and metabolic syndrome (MS) is real or simply an epiphenomenon, 490 male adults (mean age 58 ± 9 years) underwent International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), physical and prostate digital examinations, blood analysis, and urinary tract transabdominal ultrasound with prostate volume measurement. Mild, moderate, and severe LUTS were found in 350 (71.4%), 116 (23.7%), and 24 (4.9%) patients, respectively. MS was present in 198 (40.4%) patients, representing 37.4% (131 of 350) of those with mild LUTS, 46.5% (54 of 116) of those with moderate, and 54.1% (13 of 24) of those with severe. The odds ratio of MS having moderate or severe LUTS was 2.1. MS was more common in older age, higher body mass index, and larger prostate size. Moderate and severe LUTS were more frequent in older age, lower levels of high density cholesterol, and higher blood pressure. Older age and body mass index had significant relative risk for lower urinary tract symptoms and only age remained independent factor for LUTS on multivariate analysis. Our results suggest that the association of male LUTS, prostate volume, and MS might be coincidental and related to older age.