Relationship between Lower Urinary Tract Symptom and Hypertension: Coprevalence Rate and Symptom Severity

Hong, Sung Joon; Chung, Hyun Jik; Rha, Koon Ho; Huh, Young Sook; Chung, Byung Ha; Jung, Sin Ho

Abstract

PURPOSE: It is presumed that lower urinary tract symptom(LUTS) and hypertension are related to the age-dependent sympathetic activity. Thus, the attempt to elucidate a correlation between these two conditions can be important in their management. We investigated the relationship between LUTS and hypertension.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From 1995 to 1997, 1011 men(422 from routine physical checkup, 288 benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) patients, 301 hypertension patients) over 50 years were enrolled. The international prostate symptom score(IPSS) and blood pressure were recorded in all. 422 men from physical checkup were grouped into 4 categories according to the presence of LUTS(IPSS> or =8) or hypertension(systolic> or =140mmHg, diastolic> or =90mmHg). The prevalence of hypertension, and the degree of LUTS were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed with t-test, chi-square test and Mantel-Haenszel test.
RESULTS
The prevalence of hypertension was not significantly different between the LUTS(n=177) and non-LUTS groups(n=245)(38.4% vs 35.9%, p=0.600) in men from physical checkup. There was no difference according to age(p=0.513). The prevalence of hypertension was 39.6% in the BPH group(N=288) and was not different compared to the non-LUTS group(n=245)(p=0.385). No significant difference in the prevalence of LUTS was seen between hypertensives(n=156) and normotensives(n=266)(53.2% vs 48.2%, p=0.447) in the physical checkup group. However, their mean IPSS (8.9+/-6.5 vs 7.6+/-5.6) were significantly different(p=0.030). The mean IPSS between hypertensives(15.21+/-4.5) and normotensives(12.75+/-5.0) from the LUTS group(n=178) were significantly different(p=0.002). The mean IPSS of the patients with hypertension(n=301, 9.6+/-5.9) was significantly higher than normotensive men(n=266, 7.6+/-5.6) from physical checkup(p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Hypertension and LUTS including BPH do not correlate prevalence-wise, however, hypertension may affect the degree of IPSS.