Association of International Prostate Symptom Score Storage vs. Voiding Symptoms with Uroflowmetry Parameters

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are a common clinical presentation, typically assessed subjectively using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), while objective evaluation is performed by uroflowmetric studies. Although numerous studies have explored the association between LUTS severity and uroflowmetric parameters globally, a significant research gap remains in correlating individual LUTS components with objective uroflowmetric findings. This study aims to investigate the relationship between specific LUTS domains, as assessed by the IPSS, and corresponding uroflowmetric parameters. This study examines how IPSS storage and voiding scores relate to uroflowmetry measures {maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), voided volume}and compares their associations. Research was conducted as cross-sectional descriptive study including 208 patients aged 18–94 years presenting with LUTS for the first time. Assessment of LUTS were performed using the IPSS questionnaire, categorizing patients as having mild, moderate, or severe symptoms. Objective evaluation was carried out through uroflowmetry, Qmax, Qave, and total voided volume (TV), followed by post-void residual volume (PVRV) assessment via ultrasonography. The relationships between subjective symptom severity and objective uroflowmetric parameters were then analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 61.52 ± 13.67 years, with the majority of participants (79.3%) being over 50 years of age. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in all four uroflowmetric parameters between the mild vs. severe and moderate vs. severe LUTS groups. Furthermore, the presence of specific symptoms : incomplete evacuation, poor stream, intermittency, straining, and increased daytime frequency was associated with significant decrease in Qmax, Qave, and significant increase in PVRV in participants with symptoms compared to participants without these symptoms. This study demonstrates a clear association between the IPSS assessed LUTS severity and objective assessment of uroflowmetric parameters. As symptom severity increased, Qmax, Qave, and TV declined, while PVRV rose significantly. Among individual symptoms, incomplete evacuation and increased daytime frequency showed the strongest correlations with poor uroflowmetric outcomes, indicating impaired bladder emptying. These findings highlight the value of uroflowmetry as an objective complement to the IPSS, particularly for assessing voiding symptoms and prioritizing patients for further evaluation in resource-limited settings.