The correlation between visual prostate symptom score and the international prostate symptom score in grading lower urinary tract symptoms in bph at Muhimbili National Hospital

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: The prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) varies by ethnicity, with aging men at higher risk. The Visual Prostate Symptom Score (VPSS) offers a user-friendly alternative to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), especially for elderly patients. While previous studies compare VPSS and IPSS, there's a gap in validating VPSS for use in Tanzania and its correlation with IPSS, warranting further investigation. Objectives: This study conducted a comparative analysis of IPSS and VPSS in Tanzanian patients, assessing LUTS and BPH severity before and after treatment at Muhimbili National Hospital's Urology Department. Methodology: This longitudinal observational study at MNH in Dar es Salaam examined the correlation between VPSS and IPSS for grading LUTS in BPH patients aged 40 and above. Outpatients and inpatients with LUTS were included, employing a consecutive sampling approach. Participants completed Swahili versions of both the 7-question IPSS and the 4-pictogram VPSS. Data collection occurred pre-treatment and at a three-month follow-up to assess changes in correlation. Statistical analysis utilized SPSS version 27. Results: In a study of 137 BPH patients with LUTS, aged 62–76 (median 70), the median prostate volume decreased from 49.0mL pre-treatment to 35.0mL post-treatment. Most patients (94.2%) were literate in Swahili, with significant differences in completing IPSS based on literacy (p = 0.042), but no difference for VPSS (p = 0.999). Both IPSS and VPSS scores improved significantly post-treatment, showing strong correlations between them before (r = 0.648) and after treatment (r = 0.732), confirming their reliability in assessing LUTS severity. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the effectiveness of both IPSS and VPSS in evaluating LUTS severity in BPH patients, with VPSS being suitable for both literate and illiterate patients. Significant correlations between VPSS and IPSS before and after treatment suggest VPSS as a reliable tool for assessing symptom severity, prostate volume, and quality of life. Its adoption in routine clinical practice can enhance the management of BPH patients, improving symptom monitoring and treatment outcomes.