Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Hypertension as a Risk Factor for Storage Symptoms,but Not Voiding Symptoms

Objective: Both the presence of lower urinary tract symptom (LUTS) and that of hypertension (HT) increase with age. We investigated the associations between male LUTS and HT, and also whether α1‐blockers could allow for the alteration of symptoms. Methods: The subjects comprised 10 744 men with LUTS in a multicenter Japan‐Tamsulosin International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Survey to assess the long‐term effects of α1‐blockers. A total of 4828 men (mean age, 68.5 years) who received a 12‐week administration of tamsulosin (0.2 mg/day) were assessed using IPSS and quality of life (QOL) surveys before and after tamsulosin administration. Data were collected by self‐administered questionnaires including age, complete history and IPSS at the initial visit. Results: HT was a more common comorbidity (25.9%) than diabetes mellitus (9.9%) or cardiac disease (7.2%). The presence of HT increased significantly with the degree of frequency (mild, 21%; severe, 29%) and nocturia (mild, 23%; severe, 28%), but did not increase with the degree of urgency. Tamsulosin significantly improved all storage and voiding symptoms in every age group above 40 years. The effect of tamsulosin on storage symptoms was more prominent in patients with HT than in patients without it. Concerning voiding symptoms, however, tamsulosin was as effective in patients with HT as it was in patients without HT. Conclusion: HT represents a risk factor for the increased frequency and severity of storage symptoms and it also influences the efficacy of α1‐blockers.