Demographic and clinical characteristics of chronic prostatitis: prospective comparison of the University of Sciences Malaysia Cohort with the United States National Institutes of Health Cohort

PURPOSE: We compared demographic and clinical characteristics of the University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort to the United States National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants met the same definition of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome. Each participant had extensive demographic, medical history, previous treatment, clinical and laboratory evaluations. RESULTS: The University of Sciences Malaysia and National Institutes of Health cohorts proved similar in most respects. National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index total scores, pain and urinary subscores were similar for the 332 University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort and 488 National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Cohort participants. Differences included worse quality of life subscore for the University of Sciences Malaysia Chronic Prostatitis Cohort, differences in the location, number of sites, and types of pain/discomfort between the 2 populations, and that the University of Sciences Malaysia participants had received less previous treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The demographic characteristics and clinical presentation of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome proved remarkably similar in these diverse populations. Both cohorts experienced major reduction in their quality of life from chronic pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Comparison of diverse populations using standard clinical, laboratory and assessment instruments is feasible, and may provide important insights into chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and the factors that determine clinical outcome.