Low quality of life in men with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms

Abstract

Background Chronic prostatitis (CP) can impair health-related quality of life (QOL), but the full impact of CP, including the impact of CP-like symptoms in men who have no CP diagnosis (CPS), is unknown. We estimated the impact of diagnosed CP (DCP) and CPS on Health-related QOL. Methods From a representative nationwide survey of men aged 20–84 in Japan, we determined the prevalence of DCP and also of CPS. For CPS, we used Nickel’s criteria, which were used previously to estimate the prevalence of CP and are based on the NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index. To test the robustness of Nickel’s criteria, we used two other definitions of CPS (two sensitivity analyses). We measured QOL with the Short-Form 12-Item Health Survey. We compared the participants’ QOL scores with the national-norm scores, and with the scores of men who had benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Results Among the 5 010 participants, 1.4% had DCP and 3.7% had CPS. The sensitivity analyses resulted in CPS prevalence estimates of 3.1% and 4.5%. CPS was particularly common in younger participants (5.7% of those in their 30 s had CPS). QOL was very low among men with CP: In most areas (domains) of QOL, their scores were more than 0.5 standard deviation below the national-norm mean. Their mental-health scores were lower than those of men with BPH. The lowest scores among all 8 QOL domains were in role-functioning. Conclusions CP is common, but it is underdiagnosed, particularly in younger men. Whether diagnosed or only suspected, CP’s impact on QOL is large. Because CP is common, and because it substantially impairs individuals’ QOL and can also reduce societal productivity, it requires more attention. Specifically, needed now is a simple tool for urologists and for primary care providers, to identify men, particularly young men, whose QOL is impaired by CP.

Development and internal validation of a screening tool for chronic prostatitis (S-CP)

“…The survey was designed to represent the general population of Japan based on quota sampling from the national census in 2015 using quota sampling [ 12 ] and continued until the target of 5,000 men was reached at each stratum. The survey details and the target population’s characteristics are described elsewhere [ 3 ]. This study was conducted in accordance with the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki [ 13 ].…”

“…Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP), grouped as category III in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) classification, is a common disease in men, with an estimated prevalence of 1.8–9.7% of the male population [ 1 , 2 ]. CP significantly impairs the quality of life (QOL) and is widely distributed among older adults and young people, who play a central role in economic activities [ 3 ]. Therefore, CP is a disease that significantly impacts society [ 4 ].…”

“…Moreover, there is concern that a significant number of patients with CP may lack proper diagnosis and treatment. In fact, in our previously published work [ 3 ], a survey of the general population depicted that the percentage of participants who reported CP-like symptoms without CP diagnosis was more than double the percentage of those who had been diagnosed with CP at medical institutions (3.7% vs. 1.4%, respectively). Notably, both groups had a significantly impaired QOL.…”

Chronic prostatitis as possible risk factor for Peyronie's disease: Psychological, sexual and prostatitis-like symptoms in patients with PD

“…In their recent study, Bai et al found a higher incidence of depression, anxiety, somatization disorder, and obsessive-compulsive behavior in patients with ED associated with CP/CPPS (40). The literature is quite scarce regarding the incidence of anxiety and depression in patients with CP/CPSS; however, in the few studies analyzed, the incidence of anxiety symptoms in patients with CP/CPPS was found in about 60-90% of cases (41,42), while with respect to the incidence of depressive symptoms, these were found to be present in approximately 27-90% of cases in patients with CP/CPPS (42)(43)(44). This study aims to investigate a possible relationship between CP and PD and to characterize the psychological profile of patients suffering from PD, with or without concomitant CP.…”

The harmful effects of overlooking acute bacterial prostatitis

“…In the early years of the 20th century, migration from gonococcal urethritis accounted for 80% of prostatic abscesses, 25,26 but widespread antimicrobial treatments have reduced the frequency of prostate abscesses. Currently, prostate abscesses are rare, accounting for 0.5%–2.5% of all diseases of the prostate or 0.2% of all diseases of the genitourinary system 27 .…”