Prevalence and bother of lower urinary tract symptoms and overactive bladder in Poland, an Eastern European Study

Mikolaj Przydacz,Przemyslaw Dudek,Tomasz Golabek,Piotr Chlosta,Marek Lipinski

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-76846-0

Abstract

The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and overactive bladder (OAB) has been measured by population-based investigations in many parts of the world. However, data are lacking for Eastern Europe, and there has not been any large population-representative study in any country of this region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated bother of LUTS and OAB in a population-representative sample of persons aged ≥ 40 years in Poland. This investigation was conducted as a computer-assisted telephone interview. The survey sample was stratified by age, sex, and place of residence to reflect the entire Polish population. LUTS and OAB were assessed by a standardized protocol based on the International Continence Society definitions and validated questionnaires. Of 6005 participants, 57% were women, and the mean age (range) was 60.7 (40–93) years. The prevalence of LUTS was 69.8% (men 66.2%; women 72.6%). There was no difference in prevalence between urban and rural areas. LUTS were often bothersome among men and women, but women were more likely to be bothered compared with men. There were also statistically significant correlations between the frequency and the bother intensity of each of the LUTS. The prevalence of OAB was higher in women (39.5%) than in men (26.8%), and OAB increased with age. Lastly, LUTS had detrimental effects on the quality of life because one third of the participants had concerns about their urinary-specific quality of life. This investigation was the first nationwide, population-representative epidemiological study of LUTS and OAB in an Eastern-European country. LUTS were highly prevalent, often bothersome, and had negative effects on the quality of life of men and women aged ≥ 40 years. Our findings are comparable with other epidemiologic studies of LUTS and OAB conducted in different regions of the world.Trial registration: NCT04121936.

Highlights

lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were often bothersome among men and women, but women were more likely to be bothered compared with men
The prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) was higher in women (39.5%) than in men (26.8%), and OAB increased with age
The primary study objective was to estimate the prevalence of LUTS in men and women aged ≥ 40 years in Poland

Summary

Objectives

The primary study objective was to estimate the prevalence of LUTS in men and women aged ≥ 40 years in Poland. For LUTS presence, previous investigators used either of two definitions that differed by the interval for estimating prevalence. Definition II: at least one storage, voiding, or post-micturition symptom with a Likert score 3–5, i.e., symptoms occurring half the time or more. To enable comparison with previous studies, we evaluated (separately) the prevalence of LUTS based on both definitions. Secondary study objectives included the prevalence of specific LUTS, the bother of specific LUTS (LUTS were considered bothersome if they were rated at least quite a bit, i.e., Likert score 3–5), the prevalence of OAB (score ≥ 8 points from the OAB-V8), and overall assessment of severity of LUTS with an effect on quality of life (according to the IPSS)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion