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Lower urinary tract symptoms in relation to region of birth in 95,393 men living in Australia: the 45 and Up Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are very common among older men globally, but evidence regarding the relationship between LUTS and country of origin is limited. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of LUTS and region of birth in a large, ethnically diverse population of older men resident in New South Wales, Australia.

Methods

Data on LUTS, demographic and behavioural factors were collected by postal questionnaire from 2006 to 2009 and analysed for 95,393 men aged 45 and over from the 45 and Up Study, who had not had previous prostate surgery. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between region of birth and moderate/severe LUTS, ascertained using a modified International Prostate Symptom Score, adjusting for age, income, education, alcohol consumption and smoking.

Results

Overall, 18,530 (19.4 %) men had moderate or severe LUTS. Compared to Australian-born men, prevalence of moderate/severe LUTS was significantly higher in men born in the Middle East & North Africa, Southeast Asia and North America regions (adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 1.43; 95 % CI = 1.23–1.66, OR = 1.25; 1.10–1.42, OR = 1.26; 1.05–1.52, respectively), whereas men from the UK & Ireland had significantly lower prevalence (OR = 0.85; 0.80–0.90). Patterns of association were generally similar for storage- and voiding-related types of LUTS. However, participants born in Sub-Saharan Africa showed a significantly elevated prevalence of moderate/severe voiding symptoms (1.22; 1.03–1.45) but not storage symptoms, compared to Australian-born respondents.

Conclusion

The prevalence of LUTS and of specific subtypes of LUTS varies according to region of birth.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the men participating in the 45 and Up Study. The 45 and Up Study is managed by The Sax Institute in collaboration with major partner Cancer Council New South Wales; and partners the National Heart Foundation of Australia (NSW Division); NSW Ministry of Health; beyondblue: the national depression initiative; Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW; and the Red Cross Blood Service. Emily Banks is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia

    Isabel Latz, Rosemary Korda & Emily Banks

  2. Cancer Epidemiology Research Unit, Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia

    Marianne Weber & David Smith

  3. Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Mark Clements

  4. Department of Urology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Manish Patel

  5. Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Manish Patel

  6. Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia

    Terry Dwyer & Gabriella Tikellis

  7. The Sax Institute, Sydney, Australia

    Emily Banks

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  1. Isabel Latz
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  9. Emily Banks
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Correspondence to Emily Banks.

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Latz, I., Weber, M., Korda, R. et al. Lower urinary tract symptoms in relation to region of birth in 95,393 men living in Australia: the 45 and Up Study. World J Urol 31, 673–682 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0937-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-012-0937-7

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