The burden of bladder outlet obstruction in men in rural Uganda

<span class="paragraphSection">Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are estimated to affect 2.3 billion individuals worldwide; of these, 1.1 billion are men with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO).<a href="#dyw285-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a>^,<a href="#dyw285-B2" class="reflinks">²</a> Problematically, whereas epidemiological studies document the incidence and severity of BOO in the developed world, in the developing world only estimates are available; yet this is where the number of affected individuals is predicted to increase the most (rising by 30% in Africa alone by 2018),<a href="#dyw285-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a> and currently late diagnosis and limited access to testing and treatment result in great hardship. The negative impact on quality of life and productivity is considerable. With advanced BOO serious complications are common, including renal failure and premature death, and delaying presentation until urine flow is almost completely obstructed often necessitates suprapubic catheter bladder insertion for urinary drainage.<a href="#dyw285-B3" class="reflinks">³</a>^,<a href="#dyw285-B4" class="reflinks">⁴</a> Maintenance of hygiene, care of indwelling catheters and prevention of infection are challenging in low-income settings. Figure 1.A patient ...

Source: International Journal of Epidemiology - January 7, 2017 Category: Epidemiology Source Type: research