Purpose: We describe the natural history of post-void residual (PVR) and voided volume (VV) in men.
Materials and methods: A random sample of community dwelling men (529 men 40 to 79 years old) were followed with a sonographic PVR and VV every 2 years for up to 12 years (median 5 examinations). Men were censored at the time of treatment for a prostate condition.
Results: The median annual change (slope) for PVR was 2.2% (p=0.03) and for VV was -2.1% (p <0.0001). There was considerable variability in PVR slopes (25th percentile -11%, 75th percentile 18%). A rapid increase in PVR slope (greater than 80th percentile) was more likely in men with a baseline American Urological Association Symptom Index greater than 7 (age adjusted odds ratio [OR]1.6, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.5). There was less variability in VV slopes (25th percentile -8.0%, 75th percentile 3.1%). A rapid decrease in VV slope (less than 20th percentile) was more likely in men with baseline age 70 to 79 years than 40 to 49 years (OR 3.9, 95% CI 2.1 to 7.2) and in men with a baseline PVR greater than 50 ml (age adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.6).
Conclusions: Although it is highly variable, there is progressive bladder dysfunction in community dwelling men as they age. In addition, signs and symptoms attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia were modest predictors of the development of bladder dysfunction. A baseline increased PVR predicted a rapid decrease in VV, consistent with a bladder outlet obstruction contributing to the development of detrusor overactivity and decreased bladder compliance.