Gender and Age Differences in the Perception of Bother and Health Care Seeking for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: Results from the Hospitalised and Outpatients’ Profile and Expectations Study

Abstract Background Few comparisons have been made of health care seeking behaviour for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) between men and women, as well as trends across age groups. Objective To investigate the bother from LUTS and effect on health care seeking in both men and women of different age groups and in comparison between the two genders. Design, setting, and participants A representative cross section of each of 13 clinics of a general academic hospital, with equal numbers of subjects recruited in each of six design cells that were defined by age (18–40, 41–60, 61–80 yr) and gender. Intervention A 2-h in-person interview, conducted by a trained psychologist/interviewer in a clinic office. Measurements Severity of LUTS was measured by the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Treatment seeking was measured by a single item. A bother question was modified to assess overall bother. Impact on quality of life (QoL) was measured by the IPSS QoL question. Results and limitations The final study sample comprised 415 patients. More women than men reported the presence of LUTS (85.5% vs 75.2%; p =0.01). LUTS were more bothersome in women (25.4% of women vs 17.6% of men with bother "some" or "a lot"; p =0.02). Severity of LUTS increased with age in both genders (men: p p =0.03). Bother from LUTS increased as severity of symptoms increased in both genders ( p p p =0.40), men, but not women, were more likely to seek treatment as age ( p p Conclusions In our hospital-based sample, differences in LUTS frequency, bother, and health care seeking profiles between men and women suggest a different perception and response to LUTS between the two genders.