Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in middle‐aged and elderly J apanese

Aims To estimate the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms ( LUTS ) in J apanese people, and the relationships to aging and sex, we carried out the present population‐based study. Methods The present study included 1198 men aged 60.7 ± 12.5 years and 1218 women aged 60.8 ± 12.7 years who participated in a study of aging carried out at the N ational C enter for G eriatrics and G erontology between 2006 and 2008, using linguistically validated versions of the I nternational P rostate S ymptom S core ( I‐PSS ) and I nternational C onsultation on I ncontinence Q uestionnaire S hort‐form ( ICIQ‐SF ). Results The prevalence of I‐PSS ≥8 was 25.2% in men and 11.8% in women, that of two or more a week urinary incontinence was 3.3% and 6.6%, respectively, and that of I‐PSS ≥8 and/or two or more a week urinary incontinence was 25.8% and 16.0%, respectively. The prevalence of the seven symptoms in I ‐PSS increased with aging. Just 9.1% of men and 4.6% of women who reported LUTS were medicated for LUTS . Conclusions The results showed that the severity of LUTS in J apan was related to aging. The prevalence of LUTS with I‐PSS ≥8 in J apan is similar to that in other countries. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2013; 13: 1010–1017.