Impact of urinary symptoms on bothersomeness and quality of life in young men

Abstract Objectives. To examine the impact of urinary symptoms on bothersomeness and quality of life among young men in a community. Methods. The National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index was used to identify men with urinary symptoms. The questionnaire also queried about sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 15,264 men without pain or discomfort suggestive of prostatitis were included in this study. Results. Of the 15,264 subjects, 43.6% reported that they experienced urinary symptoms. With regard to symptom severity, 3.4% did not believe their bladder emptied fully after urinating more than one time in five, and 9.7% had to urinate again within 2 hours more than one time in five. Men in major towns had more severe symptoms, including incomplete emptying and frequency, than those in other areas. Men with a high educational level were less likely to report that they experienced severe frequency. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicated that urinary symptoms significantly affected bothersomeness and quality of life of young men. Conclusions. In a community-based population of healthy 20-year-old Korean men, the prevalence of urinary symptoms was 43.6%. The results of the study indicated that demographic variables might influence the prevalence of urinary symptoms in young men. In addition, our findings suggest that young men with urinary symptoms experience a negative impact on their quality of life.