Health-related quality of life in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

Background and Aim: Symptoms and complications of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have been shown to impair patients' health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in the West. We aimed to measure the HRQOL and to determine the factors associated with worse HRQOL among the Chinese PBC patients in Hong Kong. Methods: Chinese patients with biopsy‐proven PBC were compared with an age‐ and gender‐matched control group of patients suffering from uncomplicated hypertension (HT) and chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Their HRQOL was assessed by a Chinese (Hong Kong) version of the 36‐item short‐form health survey (SF‐36). The psychological aspect of patients was assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: Forty‐four PBC patients aged 60 ± 11 years were identified. PBC patients had more profound impairment in their HRQOL, as evidenced by their significantly lower Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores (39 ± 11 vs 45 ± 9 and 45 ± 11, P = 0.009 and 0.01) and slightly lower Mental Component Summary (MCS) score (47 ± 12 vs 51 ± 10 and 48 ± 11, P = 0.051 and 0.80) as compared with the HT and CHB control groups, respectively. High HADS‐depression score was independently associated with lower PCS scores. More severe fatigue and higher HADS‐anxiety and HADS‐depression scores were independently associated with lower MCS scores. Conclusion: Chinese PBC patients have significant impairment of the HRQOL. The anxiety and depression status of patients had important contribution to the HRQOL.     

Health-related quality of life of hemodialysis patients in Taiwan: a multicenter study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important determinant of treatment effectiveness in dialysis patients. To our knowledge, there are no reports evaluating HRQOL of hemodialysis (HD) in Chinese patients. The purpose of this study is to present our results about HRQOL using the 36-Item Short-Form (SF-36) questionnaire on Taiwanese hemodialysis patients. METHODS: HRQOL was measured by using the SF-36 questionnaire in 497 HD patients in five hospitals. RESULTS: The following attributes, male gender, age <50 years old, higher education level (HEL), marriage status, employment status (EPS), less comorbid medical condition (CMC), and non-diabetic patients (NDP) were all predicted on a better Physical Component Scale (PCS). Age <50 years old, body mass index >18.5, HEL, EPS and NDP were all predicted on a higher Mental Component Scale (MCS). Scales contributing to a summary measure of physical health, the PCS score was significantly lower in women (35.0 +/- 12.3) than in men (37.9 +/- 12.3). However, there was no difference in the MCS score between women and men. In multivariate analysis, age, CMC, diabetes, serum creatinine (SCr), and erythropoietin responsiveness were significant independent predictors of PCS. Diabetes, educational level, SCr, and erythropoietin responsiveness were significant independent predictors of MCS. All of the individual scales were lower in Taiwanese HD patients than in both the general Taiwanese and US population. Each of the individual scales and MCS scores were substantially lower in the Taiwan HD group than in the US HD cohort. However, the bodily pain of PCS was significantly higher in the Taiwan HD group, although the mean PCS scores for the Taiwan HD group and the US HD study participants were nearly equal at 36.3 and 36.1, respectively. CONCLUSION: The physical and mental aspects of quality of life are substantially lower for Taiwanese HD patients, except for higher bodily pain tolerance. A number of demographic and clinical characteristics have a significant impact on HRQOL in Taiwanese HD patients.     

Self-reported history of sexually transmitted infection and chronic prostatitis symptoms: a cross-sectional study of a Nigerian undergraduate population

The aetiology of chronic prostatitis is poorly understood. A cross-sectional study of a population of male undergraduates in Nigeria, using a questionnaire containing the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) and some other relevant sex-related questions, was conducted. A total of 14.9% of the population had chronic prostatitis symptoms (CPSs) defined as a pain score of four or more on the NIH-CPSI pain subscale. Approximately 26 or 12% of the population had at least one, or ≥ 2 location(s) of pain, respectively. The presence of CPS was found to correlate with a self-reported history of sexually transmitted infection (STI) (r = +0.237; P < 0.05) and 73% of those with a self-reported history of STI had CPS. Both voiding scores and quality-of-life scores were significantly higher in subjects with CPS, compared with those without CPS. Self-reported history of STI may be an important aetiological factor for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain symptoms.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic lupus cohort (LUMINA). XVII. Predictors of self-reported health-related quality of life early in the disease course

OBJECTIVE: To determine the baseline factors predictive of self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) early in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) from a multiethnic LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus nurture) cohort. METHODS: LUMINA patients with > or =2 visits were studied. Self-reported HRQOL was examined with the 8 subscales and 2 summary measures (the Physical Component Summary [PCS], and the Mental Component Summary [MCS]) of the Short Form 36 (SF-36). Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done with the PCS, MCS and 8 subscales as the dependent variables. The analyses were performed including and excluding the corresponding SF-36 measure from the independent variables. Age, sex, and ethnicity were included in all models. Time was modeled in all regressions. RESULTS: A total of 1,351 visits (346 patients [80 Hispanics-Texas, 34 Hispanics-Puerto Rico, 126 African Americans, and 106 Caucasians]) were included in these analyses. Mean +/- SD PCS and MCS scores were 36.7 +/- 12.0 and 46.6 +/- 11.5, respectively. The scores for the eight subscales of the SF-36 were also lower than those for the general population. Baseline SF-36 measures were highly predictive of subsequent HRQOL. In the same set of regressions, older age was found to consistently predict poor self-reported HRQOL whereas fibromyalgia, helplessness, fatigue, and abnormal illness-related behaviors were also predictive, but less consistently. Estimated adjusted variances in these regressions ranged from 23% (Role-Emotional [RE]) to 43% (Physical Functioning [PF]). CONCLUSION: In patients with SLE, poor baseline HRQOL was highly predictive of subsequent poor HRQOL. Other predictive variables of poor functioning were primarily psychological/behavioral and socioeconomic-demographic.     

The economic impact of chronic prostatitis

BACKGROUND: Little information exists on the economic impact of chronic prostatitis. The objective of this study was to determine the direct and indirect costs associated with chronic prostatitis. METHODS: Outcomes were assessed using a questionnaire designed to capture health care resource utilization. Resource estimates were converted into unit costs with direct medical cost estimates based on hospital cost-accounting data and indirect costs based on modified labor force, employment, and earnings data from the US Census Bureau. RESULTS: The total direct costs for the 3 months prior to entry into the cohort, excluding hospitalization, were $126 915 for the 167 study participants for an average of $954 per person among the 133 consumers. Of the men, 26% reported work loss valued at an average of $551. The average total costs (direct and indirect) for the 3 months was $1099 per person for those 137 men who had resource consumption with an expected annual total cost per person of $4397. For those study participants with any incurred costs, tests for association revealed that the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (P<.001) and each of the 3 subcategories of pain (P =.003), urinary function (P =.03), and quality-of-life (P =.002) were significantly associated with resource use, although the quality-of-life subscale score from the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index was the only predictor of resource consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic prostatitis is associated with substantial costs and lower quality-of-life scores, which predicted resource consumption. The economic impact of chronic prostatitis warrants increased medical attention and resources to identify and test effective treatment strategies.     

Quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with related controls within a unique African American population

The patient's perspective of how their health affects their function is health-related quality of life (HRQOL). HRQOL is poorer in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Few HRQOL studies in SLE patients have focused on African Americans despite an increased disease burden compared with Caucasians. The African American Gullah population of South Carolina has a homogeneous genetic and environmental background and a high prevalence of multi-patient families with SLE. Demographics, medical history, and Short-Form 36 (SF-36) were measured within a cohort of Gullah SLE cases and related controls. Compared with related controls (n?=?37), cases (n?=?89) had a lower Physical Component Summary (PCS, 41.8 vs. 52.3, p?相似文献   

Health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab: results from a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of adalimumab on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Patients >or=18 years enrolled in the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long-Term Efficacy and Safety in Ankylosing Spondylitis, a randomized controlled study, were randomly assigned to receive either adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously or placebo every other week for 24 weeks. ASsessment of Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) International Working Group criteria were used to evaluate clinical efficacy. HRQOL outcomes were assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 315 patients enrolled (208 in the adalimumab group and 107 in the placebo group). Patients in the adalimumab group showed significant improvements in SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and ASQoL scores versus placebo at weeks 12 and 24 (P < 0.001). The observed differences between adalimumab and placebo patients exceeded the a priori minimum important difference (MID) at the group level, and significantly more adalimumab-treated patients achieved improvements greater than the MID on the patient level. These data suggest the HRQOL improvements were clinically meaningful. No differences were observed in SF-36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Significant differences favoring adalimumab were observed for SF-36 domains physical function, bodily pain, role-physical, general health, vitality, social function, and role-emotional. There was significant association between HRQOL improvements (measured by SF-36 PCS and MCS, and ASQoL scores) and ASAS clinical responses (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Adalimumab significantly improved physical health status and overall HRQOL through 24 weeks in patients with active AS.     

Health Status Among 28,000 Women Veterans

BACKGROUND: Male veterans receiving Veterans Health Administration (VA) care have worse health than men in the general population. Less is known about health status in women veteran VA patients, a rapidly growing population.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize health status of women (vs men) veteran VA patients across age cohorts, and assess gender differences in the effect of social support upon health status.
DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Data came from the national 1999 Large Health Survey of Veteran Enrollees (response rate 63%) and included 28,048 women and 651,811 men who used VA in the prior 3 years.
MEASUREMENTS: Dimensions of health status from validated Veterans Short Form-36 instrument; social support (married, living arrangement, have someone to take patient to the doctor).
RESULTS: In each age stratum (18 to 44, 45 to 64, and ≥65 years), Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores were clinically comparable by gender, except that for those aged ≥65, mean MCS was better for women than men (49.3 vs 45.9, P <.001). Patient gender had a clinically insignificant effect upon PCS and MCS after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and education. Women had lower levels of social support than men; in patients aged <65, being married or living with someone benefited MCS more in men than in women.
CONCLUSIONS: Women veteran VA patients have as heavy a burden of physical and mental illness as do men in VA, and are expected to require comparable intensity of health care services. Their ill health occurs in the context of poor social support, and varies by age.     

Impairment of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic hepatitis C is associated with insulin resistance

Background

Although it has been reported that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with a significant decline in health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the underlying causes and mechanisms are still unknown. Insulin resistance (IR) is recognized as a distinct aspect of chronic HCV infection. Therefore, we attempted to identify the factors including IR indices that are related to the HRQOL of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods

One hundred and seventy-five CHC patients (91 female, 84 male, mean age, 56.4 years) not using antidiabetic agents were included and underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and completed a self-administered HRQOL questionnaire, the Short Form 36 (SF-36), which is a well-validated questionnaire for assessing general QOL. Scale scores were standardized and summarized into physical and mental component summary (PCS and MCS). We investigated which clinical parameters, including homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), were associated with decline in PCS and MCS scores in CHC patients.

Results

There were no significant differences in clinical parameters between high and low MCS, but there were significant differences in age, sex, hemoglobin, liver fibrosis, OGTT pattern, and HOMA-IR between high and low PCS. Multivariate analysis showed that HOMA-IR >2 was independently associated with lower PCS (OR 2.92, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that impairment of HRQOL, especially physical domains, in CHC patients is associated with IR.     

Physical disability contributes to caregiver stress in dementia caregivers

BACKGROUND: Previous findings of studies on the impact of physical illness on caregiver health have been inconsistent. The authors wanted to determine whether physical disability, as determined by the SF-12 survey that provides information on both physical and mental health problems, contributes to caregiver stress. METHODS: The authors interviewed 91 primary caregivers (aged 38-85 years) of persons with dementia who had been referred by their family physicians for the first time for formal support services or memory evaluation. Caregivers completed the SF-12 version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form Health Survey that generates Mental Component Summary (MCS) and Physical Component Summary (PCS) scores and reported on caregiver stress and concurrent medical conditions and medications. RESULTS: Most caregivers reported stress (76.9%), having medical conditions (72.4%), or taking medications (67%). The MCS but not the PCS scores were significantly lower than community norms, indicating an excess of disability due to mental health problems. Nevertheless, 40.7% had PCS scores indicating some degree of physical disability. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, PCS scores but not the presence of medical problems were independently associated with caregiver stress. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic disability as assessed by SF-12 PCS scores is independently associated with caregiver stress. These data suggest that caregivers of persons with dementia should be assessed for disabling physical conditions and mental health problems. In addition, reducing the impact of physical disability could ameliorate caregiver stress.     

Influence of social support on health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The objective of this study was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and social support in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compare it with healthy people, to identify the relationship between social support and HRQOL in SLE patients, and to assess the influence of age, SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and disease duration on HRQOL. We administered The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (MOS SF-36) questionnaire and the Social Support Rate Scale (SSRS) to a group of 202 patients with SLE and a healthy control group of 207 individuals. Spearman correlation was performed to identify the relationship between social support and HRQOL in SLE patients. The ordinal regression analyses were used to identify independent variables that were associated with the PCS and MCS. Results show that the physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of MOS SF-36 were lower in patients compared with healthy controls. Patients with SLE have a poorer social support as compared with healthy controls in subjective support, objective support, and availability of support. There was a positive correlation between social support and PCS and MCS. MCS and PCS were negatively associated with age and SLEDAI. MCS were negatively associated with disease duration. Taken together, this data suggested that patients with SLE have significant impairment of their HRQOL and less social support. HRQOL may be affected by social support, age, and SLEDAI.     

The role of personal and household members’ substance use in health-related quality of life in women living with HIV/AIDS

Advances in HIV treatments have led to a greater focus on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among people living with HIV/AIDS. The current study examined factors associated with HRQOL among 378 women in HIV care. HRQOL was measured using a modified version of the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey; scores were derived for the mental and physical composite summaries (MCS and PCS). We measured personal alcohol use and drug use. Household members’ substance use were assessed by asking participants about the alcohol/drug status of persons with whom they live. Multivariate generalized linear models were used to estimate the linear association between MCS and PCS scores and personal and household members’ alcohol and drug use. We found lower MCS scores were significantly associated with personal alcohol use and living with someone with alcohol or/and drug problems. Lower PCS scores were not significantly associated with personal alcohol use or living with someone with alcohol or/and drug problems. Findings suggest that universal screening and targeted interventions for alcohol use by the patient or household members may offer potential strategies for improving mental health quality of life among women living with HIV/AIDS.     

The treatment of prostatitis

PURPOSE: Prostatitis are frequently recognized in general practice and often are a diagnosis and therapeutic challenge. We review here the updated knowledge on diagnosis and therapy of prostatitis. CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS: Prostatitis are divided into acute bacterial prostatitis (I), chronic bacterial prostatitis (II), chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome (III) and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome are divided into : inflammatory (IIIA) and noninflammatory (IIIB). Treatment of prostatitis should follow evidence based guidelines recently published. Acute prostatitis should be treated by ciprofloxacine 500 mg tid or ofloxacine 200 mg bid or cotrimoxazole 960 mg bid for 4 weeks (CIII). When bacteremia occurs third generation cephalosporin with gentamicin should be used (CIII). In chronic bacterial prostatitis ciprofloxacine 500 mg tid or ofloxacine 200 mg bid or norfloxacine 400 mg bid or cotrimoxazole 960 mg bid for 4 weeks may be used (BIII). FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS: Molecular techniques should improve the etiological diagnosis of prostatitis and their treatment.     

Treatment of prostatitis with antiinflammatory agents and α-blockers

Prostatitis is the most common urologie diagnosis made in men younger than 50 years of age. The prevalence of prostatitis has been reported to be 11 % to 16% for the general population. Chronic prostatitis is the most common form of prostatitis, accounting for more than 90% of the cases. The pathophysiology of chronic prostatitis is unknown. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, α-blockers, and antibiotics appear to be beneficial in treating patients with chronic prostatitis, but may not produce spectacular cure rates. Patients with prostatitis experience considerable morbidity in terms of quality of life and may remain symptomatic for many years.     

Systemic lupus erythematosus in a multiethnic lupus cohort (LUMINA). XVII. Predictors of self‐reported health‐related quality of life early in the disease course

Objective

To determine the baseline factors predictive of self‐reported health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) early in the course of systemic lupus erythematosus patients (SLE) from a multiethnic LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus nurture) cohort.

Methods

LUMINA patients with ≥2 visits were studied. Self‐reported HRQOL was examined with the 8 subscales and 2 summary measures (the Physical Component Summary [PCS], and the Mental Component Summary [MCS]) of the Short Form 36 (SF‐36). Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done with the PCS, MCS and 8 subscales as the dependent variables. The analyses were performed including and excluding the corresponding SF‐36 measure from the independent variables. Age, sex, and ethnicity were included in all models. Time was modeled in all regressions.

Results

A total of 1,351 visits (346 patients [80 Hispanics‐Texas, 34 Hispanics‐Puerto Rico, 126 African Americans, and 106 Caucasians]) were included in these analyses. Mean ± SD PCS and MCS scores were 36.7 ± 12.0 and 46.6 ± 11.5, respectively. The scores for the eight subscales of the SF‐36 were also lower than those for the general population. Baseline SF‐36 measures were highly predictive of subsequent HRQOL. In the same set of regressions, older age was found to consistently predict poor self‐reported HRQOL whereas fibromyalgia, helplessness, fatigue, and abnormal illness‐related behaviors were also predictive, but less consistently. Estimated adjusted variances in these regressions ranged from 23% (Role‐Emotional [RE]) to 43% (Physical Functioning [PF]).

Conclusion

In patients with SLE, poor baseline HRQOL was highly predictive of subsequent poor HRQOL. Other predictive variables of poor functioning were primarily psychological/behavioral and socioeconomic‐demographic.

     

Health-related quality of life in Italian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. I. Relationship between physical and mental dimension and impact of age

OBJECTIVE: To examine health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Italian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compare it with that of healthy people, and to investigate relationships among different dimensions and subscales of a generic health status measure. METHODS: The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) was applied in a cohort of 126 consecutive SLE patients and 96 healthy controls. At the time of HRQOL testing, all patients underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation. RESULTS: Both physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of the SF-36 were reduced in patients compared with controls. In SLE great variability in all the subscales was observed. Significant correlations between PCS and MCS and between many different subscales were observed in patients but not in controls. The PCS was higher than MCS more frequently in controls than in SLE patients (81 vs 48.4%, P<0.00001). In SLE, HRQOL tended to worsen with age. CONCLUSION: Both PCS and MCS contribute to the decrease in HRQOL in SLE patients. In SLE the mutual interaction between these two dimensions seems to be more relevant than in healthy people.     

Category III chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: Insights from the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network studies

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome remains an enigmatic medical condition. Creation of the National Institutes of Health-funded Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network (CPCRN) has stimulated a renewed interest in research on and clinical aspects of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Landmark publications of the CPCRN document a decade of progress. Insights from these CPCRN studies have improved our management of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and offer hope for continued progress.     

Health‐related quality of life outcomes in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis treated with adalimumab: Results from a randomized controlled study

Objective

To evaluate the impact of adalimumab on health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

Patients ≥18 years enrolled in the Adalimumab Trial Evaluating Long‐Term Efficacy and Safety in Ankylosing Spondylitis, a randomized controlled study, were randomly assigned to receive either adalimumab 40 mg subcutaneously or placebo every other week for 24 weeks. ASsessment of Ankylosing Spondylitis (ASAS) International Working Group criteria were used to evaluate clinical efficacy. HRQOL outcomes were assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF‐36) Health Survey and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) Questionnaire.

Results

A total of 315 patients enrolled (208 in the adalimumab group and 107 in the placebo group). Patients in the adalimumab group showed significant improvements in SF‐36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and ASQoL scores versus placebo at weeks 12 and 24 (P < 0.001). The observed differences between adalimumab and placebo patients exceeded the a priori minimum important difference (MID) at the group level, and significantly more adalimumab‐treated patients achieved improvements greater than the MID on the patient level. These data suggest the HRQOL improvements were clinically meaningful. No differences were observed in SF‐36 Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores. Significant differences favoring adalimumab were observed for SF‐36 domains physical function, bodily pain, role‐physical, general health, vitality, social function, and role–emotional. There was significant association between HRQOL improvements (measured by SF‐36 PCS and MCS, and ASQoL scores) and ASAS clinical responses (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Adalimumab significantly improved physical health status and overall HRQOL through 24 weeks in patients with active AS.     

Determinants of health-related quality of life of opiate users at entry to low-threshold methadone programs

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of factors associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among opiate users at entry to low-threshold methadone treatment. METHODS: The SF-36 questionnaire was administered to 145 opiate users at enrollment into low-threshold methadone maintenance programs. ANOVA and correlational analyses were performed to investigate the determinants of poor physical and mental composite summary scales (PCS and MCS) of the SF-36 among opiate users. Stepwise regression methods were also employed to fit PCS and MCS multivariate models. RESULTS: Age, employment status, chronic medical conditions, hospitalization, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and age at first injection episode were significantly associated with PCS. Mental health problems, sexual abuse, physical abuse, the use of sedatives, the use of cocaine, the number of days of cocaine use, sedative use and multiple substance use in the past month were significantly associated with MCS. The variances in the MCS and PCS were not readily explained by any one factor. CONCLUSION: The multiplicity of factors influencing HRQOL of opiate users suggests the need for a range of services within the context of a methadone program, addressing primary medical care needs as well as treatment for both mental health problems and abuse issues.     

The DABBEC phenotyping system: towards a mechanistic understanding of CP/CPPS

There is an urgent need to elucidate the mechanistic basis of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), as the current methods of symptom-based diagnosis and treatment have failed. Here, we propose a phenotyping system that bridges the gap between the symptom-based diagnosis and treatment of the present and the mechanistic approach of the future. Our phenotyping system uses the Chronic Prostatitis Collaborative Research Network (CPCRN)-recommended algorithm in combination with the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) as a basis for diagnosis, while incorporating novel domains for quantitative assessment and stratification of CP/CPPS patients. We believe this novel system will serve to help advance our understanding of the roles of the patient's genome and proteome in the etiology of CP/CPPS. We predict that, as we begin to understand the mechanistic basis of CP/CPPS pathology and progression, we will develop specific treatments that will aim to cure the disease, rather than merely quell the symptoms.