The significance of age on symptoms and urodynamic- and cystoscopic findings in benign prostatic hypertrophy

To evaluate influence of age on symptomatology and objective parameters in benign prostatic hypertrophy, preoperative findings in 199 unselected patients during one year were analysed. Symptoms of bladder instability increased with age, as did incidence of uninhibited detrusor contractions and bladder trabeculation, whereas maximum urine flow and obstructive complaints decreased, although prostatic size was the same. In the oldest age groups only was increasing prostatic size associated with increasing bladder trabeculation. Age related changes in neurological control and in the structure of the bladder may be involved, and the present results suggest age to be an important factor in the interpretation of symptoms and objective findings in prostatic hypertrophy.