Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and its Impact on Quality of Life among Adults: A Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

Introduction: A collection of clinical symptoms affecting the bladder, prostate, urethra, and urinary sphincter is collectively referred to as Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). LUTS can be categorised into two types: storage symptoms and voiding symptoms. Male individuals experiencing LUTS may have a lower Quality of Life (QoL). Aim: To assess LUTS and its impact on QoL among adults in a selected tertiary care hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Yenepoya Medical College Hospital in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India, from June 2020 to December 2023. A total of 220 subjects were recruited using a non probability purposive sampling technique. A LUTS questionnaire was used to assess the severity of symptoms, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) QoL Bref tool was utilised to evaluate QoL. The collected data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The correlation and association between the concepts were analysed using Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the Chi-square test. Results: The majority, 171 (77.7%), of adult males had a moderate level of LUTS, followed by 39 (17.8%) with a mild level of LUTS and 10 (4.5%) with a severe level of LUTS symptoms. The overall QoL was average. There was a positive correlation between LUTS symptoms and QoL (r-value=1.71, p-value=0.01). However, the calculated p-value indicates that there was no significant association between the prevalence of LUTS and demographic variables. Conclusion: In this study, LUTS affects majority of adults aged ≥40 years, and symptoms increase with advancing age. Clinically, this underscores the importance of comprehensive assessments and personalised treatment approaches for LUTS, focusing not only on symptom severity but also on overall QoL.