Health‐related quality of life and psychological well‐being in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Aims and objectives To examine the health‐related quality of life and psychological well‐being of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia and identify the predictive factors of health‐related quality of life. Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia is highly prevalent in ageing men and causes bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms, which has a negative impact on their health‐related quality of life. The current practice of managing benign prostatic hyperplasia focuses on relieving physical symptoms. However, the impact of benign prostatic hyperplasia on the patients' health‐related quality of life and psychological well‐being remains understudied, especially in the Asian population. Design A descriptive correlational survey study. Methods A convenience sample of 97 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was recruited at an outpatient urology clinic of a tertiary hospital in Singapore. The health‐related quality of life, lower urinary tract symptoms and psychological well‐being of the participants were assessed using the 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey, International Prostate Symptom Score and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, respectively. Results The health‐related quality of life scores were low with physical and mental health component scores of 47·0 and 48·9, respectively, as assessed by the 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey. There was a high prevalence of anxiety (10·3%) and depression (21·6%). Correlation analysis revealed significantly negative relationships between lower urinary tract symptoms, anxiety, depression and physical and mental health dimensions of the 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey. Multiple linear regression analysis further identified that postvoid residual urine and lower urinary tract symptoms were predictive factors of the physical health dimension, whereas anxiety and depression were predictive factors of the mental health dimension of the 12‐item Short‐Form Health Survey. Conclusions The health‐related quality of life of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia was poor, and their psychological well‐being was severely affected. Postvoid residual urine, lower urinary tract symptoms, anxiety and depression were identified to be significant predictive factors of the health‐related quality of life of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Relevance to clinical practice Findings from this study provide useful evidence‐based information for healthcare professionals in the development and implementation of effective and culturally sensitive interventions to improve the health‐related quality of life and psychological well‐being of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.