Prevalence, Burden, and Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men Aged 50 and Older: A Systematic Review of the Literature

We conducted a systematic review of literature from the years 2000 through 2017 on the prevalence and burden of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men aged 50 and older, and medical treatments of and alternative nonmedical approaches to LUTS. EBSCOhost (Medline with Full Text) was searched for observational, experimental, and review studies in peer-reviewed journals in the English language. Our review found that LUTS were highly prevalent in the world and estimated to affect 2.3 billion people in 2018, with 44.7% being men. Men with LUTS suffer from not only burdensome symptoms such as nocturia and urgency but also adverse psychological consequences (e.g., anxiety and depression) and financial burden. Current medical treatments are clinically effective, but their efficacy is compromised by side effects and low compliance rates. Alternative nonmedical treatments for LUTS were also sought worldwide. There is evidence that lifestyle modifications such as pelvic muscle exercises and bladder training, physical activity, dietary modification, and nutritional supplements can alleviate LUTS and improve patient quality of life; however, evidence based on rigorous methodology remains minimal and cannot be generalized across populations. Evidence of effectiveness of weight loss programs to reduce LUTS is inconclusive. We conclude that although behavioral treatment is a promising approach to alleviating LUTS, especially when combined with medical treatments, well-designed randomized controlled and longitudinal clinical trials on behavioral treatments of LUTS are still needed. Minimally invasive procedures and neuromodulation therapy also show positive results of alleviating LUTS but require further research as well.