Prevalence of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Effect on Quality of Life in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Random Sample

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Abstract
Symptoms of voiding dysfunction are common in both aging women and men. The term lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is now universally recognized as the preferred terminology to describe a constellation of symptoms that may be caused by multiple pathologic conditions such as benign prostatic obstruction or detrusor overactivity.1 Prior studies of the prevalence of LUTS have focused primarily on men, with few studies including minority populations.2-6 In addition, prevalence estimates among men based on data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey are available by race/ethnic groups but do not include the full spectrum of urinary symptoms.7 The importance of LUTS to public health is underscored by its impact on quality of life,3,7-11 the high estimates of direct and lost opportunity costs for benign prostatic hyperplasia,12 and the development of pharmaceuticals and interventions for LUTS.13 Furthermore, data on the prevalence of pharmacologic therapy for LUTS on a population level are lacking. Consequently, currently available estimates of the health burden ascribed to voiding dysfunction are, at best, imperfect.