Background: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms was determined by survey as an initial step in estimating the significance of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Asia and Australia.
Methods: The symptom index (0 to 35) and quality-of-life (QOL) index (0 to 6) of the international prostate symptom score were measured in 7588 men in 9 Asian countries and 146 men in Australia.
Results: The percentages of Asian men considered to be symptomatic (symptom index > or = 8) were 18%, 29%, 40%, and 56% in the age groups of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 to 79 years, respectively. For Australian men, these figures were 36%, 33%, and 37% in the 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 to 79 year age groups, respectively.
Conclusions: Our estimates indicate that the prevalences of symptomatic men in Asia and Australia are similar to or greater than those in Europe and America, and suggest BPH is similarly common in these areas.