Benign prostatic hyperplasia in community-dwelling elderly in Korea.

BACKGROUND This study was done to identify the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and BPH-related symptoms among community-dwelling elderly men in Korea. In addition, quality of life and health care-seeking behavior were explored. METHODS A total of 417 elderly men were surveyed using the IPSS (International Prostatic Symptom Score) and a structured questionnaire on health care-seeking behaviors. RESULTS The prevalence of BPH was 19.7%. Of those with BPH, 80.3% reported mild symptoms, 13.2% moderate symptoms, and 6.5% severe symptoms. The severity of BPH-related symptoms was significantly correlated with quality of life. Among those with BPH, 42.7% had never consulted with anyone about their symptoms. CONCLUSIONS BPH has emerged as a serious public health problem in elderly men. Elderly people who experience worse symptoms of BPH have a lower quality of life. Many elderly with BPH do not seek health care, mainly due to misconceptions about BPH. The provision of educational programs for BPH may significantly improve the quality of life of elderly men.