[Investigation of lower urinary tract symptoms in urological outpatients using original IPSS plus post micturition dribble questionnaire].

OBJECTIVES At present, there are almost no report concerning post micturition dribble (PMD) in lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). PMD may have a negative effect on the quality of life (QOL) of afflicted patients. However, question concerning PMD are not included in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, and a number of questions about PMD remain to be addressed, such as the correlation between PMD and QOL. Therefore, we investigated PMD using an original question form (IPSS added PMD) we created. METHODS Between June 2006 and March 2007, the self-administered modified IPSS (IPSS with new questions included concerning PMD) was 5 obtained from 621 outpatients (394 men and 227 women) visiting our hospital. RESULTS The PMD scores were 1.2 +/- 1.7 in men, and 0.6 +/- 1.2 in women, and thus we see that the men had a significantly higher than the women. Men's PMD scores rise from age 50 and reach a peak in the 70's. On the other hand, there is no significant change for women from the 20s and thereafter. Those with higher PMD scores were male patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and females with stress urinary incontinence. In BPH group, the average PMD score was higher than patients with another urological disease. The PMD scores were appreciably high at 1.59 +/- 1.90 for the LUTS group, and had the lower value of 0.36 +/- 0.90 for the non-LUTS group. Therefore, the LUTS group was found to have a significantly higher PMD score. Men in the LUTS group (especially those with BPH) had a positive correlation between their QOL scores and PMD scores. CONCLUSION The following points may be revealed from the present study. In patients with LUTS (especially BPH), PMD score is higher and may impair their QOL. Even women and youth may experience PMD. A more detailed evidence concerning PMD will be needed.