Impact of Chronic Constipation on Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Uroflowmetry Parameters in Men

Abstract

Objective:To evaluate the benefits of functional constipation (FC) management in male patients with male lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) coexisting with FC.Materials and Methods:We conducted a prospective study including 1748 men over the age of 40 who were admitted to our clinic with newly diagnosed male LUTS. The patients were evaluated by history, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), uroflowmetry, urinalysis, serum prostate-specific antigen testing, measurement of prostate volume by ultrasonography and post-void residual urine volume. Rectal fleet enema was administered in patients with FC diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria. Uroflowmetry tests were repeated 12 hours after enema. The patients were re-evaluated after treatment with oral sennoside once a day for a month.Results:At the end of the 1st month, 62 patients with male LUTS and FC were re-evaluated. The difference between maximum flow rate Qmax values before the treatment of constipation and in the 1st month after the treatment was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was a significant difference between the IPSS values before and at the 1st month after the treatment (p<0.001). The difference between the voided volumes in the 1st month following constipation treatment and those before the treatment and on the 1st day after treatment was statistically significant (p=0.003 and p=0.006, respectively). The difference between quality of life scores of the patients before and at the first month after treatment was statistically significant (p<0.001).Conclusion:Treatment of FC in patients with LUTS coexisting with FC may decrease IPSS scores, increase uroflowmetry parameters and patient’s quality of life. Thus, LUTS patients with FC will be protected from unnecessary medical and surgical treatments.

Keywords

• luts
• differential diagnosis
• constipation
• ipss
• rome iii criteria