Correlation of American Urological Association Symptom Index Domains with Uroflowmetric Peak Flow in Thai Patients with Suspected Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlations between the obstructive and irritative domain scores of the total AUA-SI and the uroflowmetric peak flow rate (Qmax) in Thai patients suspected of having benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 510 patients who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and were suspected of having BPH at the Urology Outpatient Department of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thailand. A self-administered AUA-SI score was used to determine the severity of symptoms, and uroflowmetry was conducted to determine parameters, including flow rate variable. Results: A significant correlation was observed between the AUA-SI score and uroflowmetric peak flow (Qmax). The AUA-SI and its obstructive domain had weak negative Pearson correlations with uroflowmetric peak flow (r = −0.164 and −0.185, respectively; P < 0.01). The irritative domain was inversely associated with Qmax (r = 0.097, P = 0.028). However, when patients in each subgroup with mild (AUA-SI = 0 - 7), moderate (AUA-SI = 8–19), and severe symptoms (AUA-SI = 20–35) were considered, the relationship was found to be not significant. Conclusion: The study revealed a significant weak negative correlation between the AUA-SI score and Qmax, but no significant correlations were found between the obstructive and irritative domains and Qmax in the subgroup analysis.

Keywords

• BPH
• Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
• AUA-SI
• Uroflowmetry