Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in adults above 50 years of age in central Kerala.

Background & objectives: The lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS) represent one of the most common clinical complaints in elderly population. Approximately one in five adults report moderate-to-severe LUTS and it substantially reduces quality of life. LUTS represent an increasing problem in community because of increasing life expectancy. By assessing the magnitude of LUTS, it helps in implementing strategies enabling us to control the disease and to improve the Quality of Life (QOL) among elderly. There are few studies to assess the prevalence of LUTS in elderly population in India. With this background this present study was undertaken to find out the prevalence of LUTS among adults aged above 50 years in central Kerala. Methods: The study was done in Aarpookara panchayath of Kottayam district. Four hundred and eighty subjects were selected using cluster sampling technique from 16 wards of Aarpookara panchayath where each ward was considered as a cluster. Identification of ward and households was done with the help of Junior Public Health Nurse/ASHA worker. Thirty eligible subjects satisfying the inclusion and exclusion criteria from each ward were recruited into the study. Selection of lane and 1st house in each ward was done by random selection by using the procedure discussed in cluster sampling technique used for evaluation of universal immunization coverage. Results: 66.8% subjects were found to have LUTS of which 56.7% had mild, 42.5% had moderate and 0.8% had severe symptoms. Storage LUTS(66.5%) was the most common complaint seen followed by post-micturition(5.6%) and voiding LUTS(5%). The most prevalent symptoms seen were nocturia(62.9%)followed by urgency(26%)and frequency (12.1%). Study also showed that severity of LUTS increased with increasing age (p=0.001), poor education (p=0.01)and decrease in socioeconomic status(p=0.01). There is significant relationship between LUTS and QoL(p=0.001). Conclusions: In the community studied, both males and females were equally affected with LUTS. Severity of LUTS increased with age and decreased with increase in education and socioeconomic status of subject. Most prevalent were storage LUTS followed by voiding and post-micturition LUTS.Nocturia was the most common symptom seen.LUTS and QoL have significant direct relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]