Just old age? A study of prostatism in general practice.

This study examines the proposal made by urologists that prostatism should be treated at an earlier stage by surgical intervention. A review of the notes of all male patients over the age of 60 years in a general practice showed that 43% of patients with prostatism had developed either acute or chronic retention prior to surgery. A prospective enquiry was therefore performed which revealed that 6% of the study population had undisclosed marked prostatism and a further 14% had mild prostatism. It was concluded that opportunistic screening should be considered as a method for achieving the earlier and more elective treatment of prostatism.