Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in middle-aged and elderly Japanese.

AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Japanese people, and the relationships to aging and sex, we carried out the present population-based study. METHODS: The present study included 1198 men aged 60.7 ± 12.5 years and 1218 women aged 60.8 ± 12.7 years who participated in a study of aging carried out at the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology between 2006 and 2008, using linguistically validated versions of the International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-form (ICIQ-SF). RESULTS: The prevalence of I-PSS ≥ 8 was 25.2% in men and 11.8% in women, that of two or more a week urinary incontinence was 3.3% and 6.6%, respectively, and that of I-PSS ≥ 8 and/or two or more a week urinary incontinence was 25.8% and 16.0%, respectively. The prevalence of the seven symptoms in I-PSS increased with aging. Just 9.1% of men and 4.6% of women who reported LUTS were medicated for LUTS. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the severity of LUTS in Japan was related to aging. The prevalence of LUTS with I-PSS ≥ 8 in Japan is similar to that in other countries.

Psychometric analysis of international prostate symptom score for female lower urinary tract symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Although the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) has often been used for female lower urinary tract symptoms (FLUTS), the psychometric properties of IPSS for FLUTS have not been studied. We investigated the reliability and validity of IPSS for FLUTS. METHODS: Two samples were prepared. Sample A consisted of 227 women and 455 men who consulted a hospital doctor and sample B consisted of 519 women and 419 men who consulted a general practitioner. Eighty-nine percent of participants completed all IPSS items and quality of life index. Cronbach's alpha coefficients and Spearman's rho were calculated for reliability and validity assessment, respectively. A factor analysis was also conducted to explore the underlying structure. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in age and each IPSS item score between the 2 samples. Cronbach's alpha of IPSS in women was approximately 0.8 in both samples, comparable to that in men. The relatively high Spearman's rho among most of IPSS voiding items and among most storage items and low Spearman's rho among most of the different categories described indicated good convergent and discriminant validity. The factor analysis showed 2 components in IPSS for FLUTES. The first was consistently related to IPSS items 1, 3, 5, and 6 and the second was related to IPSS items 2, 4, and 7. In men, however, IPSS item 4 comprised different components between samples A and B. CONCLUSIONS: Although the subject background somewhat affects the psychometric properties, the IPSS can be relevant when used to examine women, as well as men.

Reliability and validity of the King's Health Questionnaire for lower urinary tract symptoms in both genders.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the reliability and validity of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ) in both genders, which was originally developed as a health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire for female urinary incontinence for general lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data from the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and KHQ obtained from 179 men and 75 women consulting urologists (Sample A) were analysed. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and inter-domain correlation were calculated for reliability and validity assessment, respectively. Factor analysis was used to explore the underlying factor structure of the KHQ. KHQ scores of sample A were compared with those of 330 men and 418 women consulting general practitioners (Sample B). RESULTS: Internal consistency of KHQ was acceptable with a Crohnbach's alpha of 0.721-0.915 in the total population of sample A. Correlation analysis showed convergent validity among 'Physical Limitations', 'Role Limitation' and 'Social Limitations' and discriminant validity among 'Personal Relationship', 'Emotion's and 'Sleep/Energy'. Factor analysis showed three underlying components to explain convergent and discriminant validity. In both sample A and sample B, HRQoL was impaired in the eight domains according to IPSS severity. KHQ scores of domains other than 'General Health Perception' in sample B were lower than those in sample A. CONCLUSION: The KHQ can be used as a HRQoL questionnaire for LUTS in both genders. In the future, it is expected that the KHQ could be used in clinical studies for benign prostate hyperplasia and other conditions.