Correlation between Initial International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Complications of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Objective: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common disease in elderly men, and some of them are suffering from its complications. Early detection and management of complications of BPH will lead to optimal results of treatment. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) is a disease and symptom-specific scoring system used for initial evaluations of BPH patients. This study aims to determine the correlation between initial IPSS and complications resulting from BPH. Material and Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study enrolled all male patients, aged 60 years and above having complained of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), at the outpatient clinic. Patients’ demographic data (age), IPSS, and history of complications from BPH; including urinary tract infection (UTI), hematuria, urinary retention and prostate related surgery were collected. Results: In total, 301 patients were recruited in this study, with a mean age of 70.1 years old. There was significant correlation between age and IPSS (p-value 0.034), by using correlation coefficients. Sub-group analysis demonstrates a significant correlation of IPSS (both mean and severity group classifications) and complications from BPH (UTI, hematuria, urinary retention, and prostate surgery due to BPH) (p-value<0.001). Conclusion: The rate of complications, due to BPH including UTI, hematuria, urinary retention, and BPH-related surgery, correlate with higher initial IPSS.