J Korean Med Sci.  2009 Apr;24(2):320-325. 10.3346/jkms.2009.24.2.320.

Men's Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Are Also Mental and Physical Sufferings for Their Spouses

• Kim SC
• Lee SY

• KMID: 1779138
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2009.24.2.320

Abstract

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men may have an adverse effect on spouse health-related quality of life (HRQL), and these effects are probably influenced by cultural and perceptional differences. This study was conducted to explore the impact of LUTS in Korean men on their spousal HRQL in relation to symptom severities and other demographic parameters. A total of 130 spouses, whose husbands had a nocturia, frequency of greater than once per night, who shared a bed with their husbands, and accompanied husbands at consultation, were subsequently enrolled and asked to complete a structured questionnaire. Almost all spouses (98%) suffered one or more inconveniences that affected HRQL to some degree. Sleep disturbance was rated to be most inconvenient. The sleep disturbances were significantly correlated with nocturia frequency and husband co-morbidity. Husband's LUTS caused partners to feel fatigued (62%), embarrassed (79%), concerned about the possibilities of cancer (69%) and surgery (81%), sexual life deteriorated (58%), and dissatisfied, unhappy, or terrible (36%). Spouse's perception on HRQL was found to be well correlated with husband's quality of life. Men with LUTS need to understand that their LUTS is also mental and physical sufferings for their spouses.

Keyword

Lower Urinary Tract Symptom; Prostate; Spouse, Quality of Life

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nocturia/psychology
Quality of Life
Questionnaires
Severity of Illness Index
Sleep Disorders/etiology
Spouses/*psychology
Urination Disorders/diagnosis/etiology/*psychology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Prevalence of spousal inconveniences affecting health-related quality of life due to their husband's urinary symptoms.

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  Fig. 2 Patients' quality of life and their wives' health-related quality of life.

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