Determinants of doctor consultation for micturition problems in an elderly male population.

OBJECTIVE

To study which factors influence doctor consultation when a subject has micturition problems.

METHODS

Postal questionnaire in an open population of older men (n = 1,695), followed by investigations in 10 general practices, including uroflowmetry.

RESULTS

25% of the men had micturition problems, of which 10-30% presented their symptoms to a doctor. Almost 60% experienced an influence of their micturition habits on activities of daily living. More than 85% of the men were not able to compare their micturition pattern with others. In multiple logistic regression, presentation to a doctor was independently associated with obstructive symptoms, dysuria, men defining their situation as a complaint, depressive mood, more frequent sexual desire and smoking. Many other factors which might play a role in diagnosis and timing of treatment were not found to influence consultation.

CONCLUSION

Most men deal with micturition problems without consulting, although symptoms have a substantial impact on daily life. Consultation was associated with symptoms, psychological factors and smoking.