Assessment criteria of lower urinary tract symptom severity for general practitioners

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a preliminary study to examine the validity of assessment criteria of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) severity for general practitioners (GPs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 194 patients with LUTS, who visited the urology clinics in three hospitals. In 177 who completed International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS), International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire : Short-Form (ICIQ-SF), frequency-volume chart, uroflowmetry and post-void residual urine measurement, three overall grades (mild, moderate and severe) of LUTS were determined using the newly-developed assessment criteria for GPs. The relationship between diagnoses and treatments by the urologists, and overall LUTS grades were examined. RESULTS: All of the 70 patients with "severe" grade and 68 (94%) of 72 with "moderate" grade were diagnosed as having urination problems. Sixty-eight (97%) with "severe" grade and 64 (89%) with "moderate" grade were treated with fluid restriction, behavioral therapy, and/or drug therapy. Of 35 with "mild" grade, 17 (49%) were diagnosed as having normal urination. In this grade, eight patients (23%) were treated with fluid restriction and 15 (43%) with drug therapy. CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study revealed that our criteria of LUTS severity for GPs were useful to determine whether the elderly patients should be treated or not. It is necessary to examine the validity of the criteria in a model in which GPs participate.