Quality of life assessment before and after transurethral resection of the prostate in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of surgical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a Malaysian population by evaluating the quality of life before and after treatment.

Patients and methods: The study group comprised 111 LUTS patients (age 69.56 +/- 7.94 years, mean +/- SD ) who were assessed 1 week before and at 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment using the health-related quality of life (HRQOL-20) questionnaire, a visual analogue scale (VAS), the present pain intensity (PPI) scale and the international prostate symptom score (I-PSS).

Results: Preoperatively the patients suffered more pain, severe prostatic symptoms, impaired disease-specific quality of life and a reduction in health-related quality of life. Postoperatively the patients showed a significant reduction and improvement in pain, prostatic symptoms, and disease-specific and health-related quality of life.

Conclusions: The results showed that the operative procedure significantly improved the overall quality of life of patients with LUTS.