Community-based research on the benign prostatic hyperplasia prevalence rate in Korean rural area - Abstract

PURPOSE: We investigated the prevalence rate of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) among Korean males in a rural area through a cross-sectional, community-based epidemiologic survey and analyzed the correlation with epidemiologic factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 779 males who lived in Yangpyeong County participated in a prostate examination campaign. Targeting these men, we collected the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), medical history, demographic information, serum prostate-specific antigen, and prostate volume as measured by transrectal ultrasonography. The data for 599 participants were analyzed, excluding 180 men who had a possibility of prostate cancer. BPH was defined as an IPSS of 8 points or higher and a prostate volume of 25 mL or more.

RESULTS: The prevalence rate of BPH was 20.0%. The prevalence rate increased with age. There were 2 subjects (4.4%) in the age group of 40-49 years, 18 subjects (10.9%) in the age group of 50-59 years, 44 subjects (22%) in the age group of 60-69 years, and 56 subjects (26.6%) in the age group of over 70 years; this increase with age was statistically significant (p< 0.001). In the BPH group, the average IPSS was 14.67±5.95, the average prostate volume was 37.04±11.71 g, and the average prostate-specific antigen value was 1.56±0.88 ng/mL. In the analysis of correlations between the epidemiologic factors and the risk of BPH, smoking was the only statistically significant factor.

CONCLUSIONS: The total prevalence rate of BPH in this study was 20.0%, which was a little lower than the rate reported in other cities or rural areas.

Written by:
Goh HJ, Kim SA, Nam JW, Choi BY, Moon HS.   Are you the author?
Department of Urology, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Reference: Korean J Urol. 2015 Jan;56(1):68-75.
doi: 10.4111/kju.2015.56.1.68


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25598939

UroToday.com BPH Section