Associations between the severity of obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms and care-seeking behavior in rural Africa : a cross-sectional survey from Uganda
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Background:
Global estimates indicate that by 2018 2.3 billion individuals worldwide will suffer from lower
urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), with 1.1 billion having LUTS related to bladder outlet
obstruction (BOO). Left untreated BOO in men causes irreversible changes to the urinary
tract leading to urinary retention, the need for catheterization, renal failure and even death.
Estimates suggest that Africa will be one of the continents with the greatest increase in
(LUTS) by 2018 however direct measures in Africa are lacking. The objectives were to: (1)
measure of prevalence of LUTS/BOO in a community-based sample of men in Africa, (2)
compare community-based LUTS/BOO frequency to those seeking care for LUTS in a local
clinic (3) quantify bother, interference with daily living, worry and quality of life related to
LUTS/BOO between community and clinic settings and (4) examine relationships between
socioeconomic and demographics related to LUTS/BOO.
Methods and findings: 473 men from a rural Ugandan community (238 residents living with their symptoms and 177 presenting at a clinic for care) completed the International Prostate Symptom Scale (IPSS) and a 53-item validated LUTS symptom, bother and quality of life index. Severity of symptoms was categorized based on reference ranges for mild, moderate and severe levels of the IPSS, comparing those in the community versus those seeking care for symptoms. IPSS indicated that 55.9% of men in the community versus 17.5% of those at the clinic had mild symptoms, 31.5% in the community versus 52.5% of those at the clinic had moderate symptoms and 12.6% of those in the community versus 29.9% of those at the clinic had severe symptoms (p<0.001). Men seeking care for LUTS/BOO had a lower quality of life (p<0.05), were more bothered by their urinary symptoms (p<0.05), had more interference with daily activity and worry (p<0.05) but this did not have an impact on their general sense of wellbeing.
Conclusions: The burden of disease of LUTS/BOO in this rural African cohort is high and significantly higher among those seeking care due to the bother of their symptoms. One in 4 men will spend money for transport to clinic due to LUTS/BOO despite low economic resources. Educational tools for patients structured to the level of literacy are justified.
Description
CITATION: Stothers, L., et al. 2017. Associations between the severity of obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms and care-seeking behavior in rural Africa : a cross-sectional survey from Uganda. PLoS ONE, 12(3):e0173631, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173631.
The original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosone
The original publication is available at https://journals.plos.org/plosone
Keywords
Lower urinary tract symptoms, Urinary organs -- Obstructions, Patients -- Care -- Uganda, Help-seeking behavior -- Uganda
Citation
Stothers, L., et al. 2017. Associations between the severity of obstructive lower urinary tract symptoms and care-seeking behavior in rural Africa : a cross-sectional survey from Uganda. PLoS ONE, 12(3):e0173631, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173631