Correlation of Subjective Symptoms in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Erectile Dysfunction.

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest a link between the symptoms of lower urinary tract (LUTS) caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED). Increasing expected period of life, justify the interest of establishing correlations LUTS / BPH and ED in order to find more efficient ways of treating these pathologies.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the correlation of symptoms in LUTS/BPH with the degree of ED.

Methods: The study was conducted as a prospective study which involved males aged 40-60 yr with present symptoms of LUTS/BPH. All study subjects underwent quantification of subjective symptoms through the International Prostate Symptom Score-IPSS and International Index of Erectile Dysfunction- IIEF-5. The first group of respondents had IPSS 0-8, second group IPSS 9-19 and the third group IPSS 20 to 35.

Results: The results of ANOVA (F = 112.492, p = 0.000) showed that there was a statistically significant difference (p <0.05) between groups in degree of erectile function (IIEF). Tahmane test showed that there was a statistically significant difference between the first and second group (p = 0.000 <0.05), the first and third group (p = 0.000 <0.05) and the second and third group (p = 0.000 <0.05). Mean degree of ED correlates with IPSS. The results of Fisher's exact test (p = 0.000) confirmed that there was a statistically significant relationship (p <0.05) between the IPSS score and degree of erectile dysfunction (IIEF).

Conclusions: Elderly patients have a significantly higher value of IPSS score compared to younger patients. The degree of erectile dysfunction is correlated with symptoms of IPSS score. Severity of symptoms of LUTS/BPH and higher IPSS score, worsens the ED. Results of IIEF-5 score are inversely proportional with symptoms of IPSS score, and increase in IPSS score comes to a decline in IIEF score.