Correlation between Physician-Administered International Prostate Symptoms Score and Peak Urine Flow Rate in Assessment of Benign Prostatic Enlargement Patients

BACKGROUNDTo determine the correlation between international prostate symptom score (IPSS) questionnaire, completed by benign prostatic enlargement patients with the aid of their physicians and the peak urine flow rate from uroflowmetry.MATERIALS AND METHODSThis was a prospective study carried out over a period of one year (which year and which period). IPSS questionnaire was administered, and uroflowmetry done for 76 consecutive patients from urology clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) who consented to the study.RESULTSSeventy-six patients were recruited for the study. The mean age of the patients was 63.53 ± 9.84. Using the international prostate symptom score to assess symptoms severity, 16 patients had mild symptoms, 36 patients had moderate symptoms, while 24 patients had severe symptoms. The means quality-of-life score was 4.42 ± 1.83. Fifty-eight patients had obstructed peak flow rate (Qmax) on uroflowmetry, 14 patients had equivocal Qmax, while 4 patients had normal Qmax. Statistically significant, negative medium correlations were observed between Qmax and total IPSS, Qmax and the IPSS voiding and storage subscores, as well as Qmax and disease specific quality-of-life score (QoL).CONCLUSIONThere is a statistically significant medium negative correlation between total IPSS and Qmax. This negative medium correlation was also observed between Qmax and IPSS subscores and between Qmax and QoL.