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Biomedical subjects

Arthur M Bohnen

Publications and source records attributed to Arthur M Bohnen.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

Patient's quality of life and coping style influence general practitioner's management in men with lower urinary tract symptoms: the Krimpen Study.

PURPOSE: To identify patient characteristics associated with general practitioner's (GP) initial treatment decision in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and to test the hypothesis that a different coping style of patients results in different GP behaviour regarding treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A longitudinal, population-based study with a follow-up period of 6.5 years was conducted among 1688 men aged 50-78 years old. Data were collected on quality of life, symptom severity based on the International prostate symptom score (IPSS) and coping. Information on primary care seeking and GP's initial management during 2 years of follow-up of all participants was collected from the general practitioners record. RESULTS: Data were obtained of 68 men, without a history of LUTS, who had a first GP visit for LUTS during the study period. In 54.4% of the cases the GP prescribed medication, independent of symptom severity. In the group of men with a bad disease-specific QOL those with a high passive-reaction-pattern were treated less frequently than those with a low passive-reaction-pattern. CONCLUSION: Findings from this quantitative study are consistent with the hypothesis that different coping styles of patients may result in different GP behaviour regarding treatment. The use of the coping style passive-reaction-pattern has a large influence on GP's initial management in men with LUTS.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Determinants of seeking of primary care for lower urinary tract symptoms: the Krimpen study in community-dwelling men.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which factors predict seeking of primary care among men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). METHODS: A longitudinal, population-based study with a follow-up period of 6.5 yr was conducted among 1688 men aged 50-78 yr. The following data were collected: prostate volume (using transrectal ultrasonometry), urinary flow rate, ultrasound-estimated postvoid residual urine volume, generic and disease-specific quality of life (QOL), and symptom severity (International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]). Information on the seeking of primary care by all participants during 2 yr of follow-up was collected from the general practitioner's (GP) record using a computerised search engine and a manual check of electronically selected files. RESULTS: Prostate volume, postvoid residual volume, IPSS, and social generic QOL are important determinants of first GP consultation in men with LUTS. Measurements (physical urologic parameters) and self-reported items (symptom severity and QOL) contribute almost equally to GP consultation in these men. CONCLUSIONS: Both measurements of prostate volume and postvoid residual urine volume and self-reported information about symptoms or QOL can help to select those who will benefit from medical care and to reassure those men not likely to need help in the near future.

Aged↗

Simple case definition of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia, based on International Prostate Symptom Score, predicts general practitioner consultation rates.

OBJECTIVES: To determine which case-definition of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has the best predictive value for general practitioner visits for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of BPH. The incidence and prevalence rates of general practitioner visits for LUTS were also determined. METHODS: A longitudinal, population-based study from 1995 to 2003 was conducted among 1688 men aged 50 to 78 years old. Data were collected on physical urologic parameters, quality of life, and symptom severity as determined from the International Prostate Symptom Score. Information on health-care-seeking behavior of all participants was collected from the general practitioner (GP) record using a computerized search engine and an additional manual check of the electronically selected files. RESULTS: The incidence and prevalence rate of the men at risk was 19.6% and 14.0%, respectively, and these rates increased with age. For sensitivity and the positive predictive value, the case-definition of clinical BPH as an International Prostate Symptom Score greater than 7 had the best predictive value for GP visits for LUTS within 2 years after baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Because only marginal improvement (greater specificity but lower sensitivity) in the prediction of GP visits for LUTS was possible by adding information on prostate volume and flow, for the prediction of future GP visits for LUTS suggestive of BPH, we suggest that the International Prostate Symptom Score questionnaire be used and that estimation of the prostate volume and flow is not required.

Aged↗

Changes in disease specific and generic quality of life related to changes in lower urinary tract symptoms: the Krimpen study.

PURPOSE: We determined if and to what extent longitudinal changes in lower urinary tract symptoms are related to disease specific and generic quality of life in men. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A longitudinal, population based study with a followup of 4.2 years was done in 1,688 who were 50 to 79 years old. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, including the Sickness Impact Profile (3 domains), Inventory of Subjective Health, International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index. Moreover, they completed various physical and urological measurements. Mean I-PSS and quality of life scores at baseline and followup were analyzed for certain subgroups. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the change in quality of life in relation to baseline I-PSS, I-PSS changes between baseline and followup, and age. RESULTS: Although mean I-PSS increased with time, the average generic quality of life improved and almost a third of the men reported better disease specific quality of life. Multiple linear regression revealed that disease specific quality of life was associated with I-PSS at baseline, changes in I-PSS between baseline and followup, and age. However, generic quality of life scores were not associated with these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in lower urinary tract symptoms severity had little impact on disease specific quality of life in 50 to 79-year-old men or on generic quality of life during the 4.2-year followup.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Loss to follow-up in a longitudinal study on urogenital tract symptoms in Dutch older men.

OBJECTIVE: To describe loss to follow-up (LTFU) in a longitudinal community-based study on urogenital tract dysfunction in older men. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort study of men recruited from a Dutch municipality was performed. A baseline study and two follow-up rounds--all with questionnaires and additional measurements--were performed with, on average, 2.1-year intervals. Baseline characteristics were compared between participants and non-participants in the first and in the second follow-up study. RESULTS: The response rates in the first and in the second follow-up were 78.0 and 80.0%, respectively. Various characteristics were found to be related to LTFU (i.e., more than 5% difference in response rate). Lower urinary tract symptoms were related to LTFU in the first and second follow-up. Sexual dysfunction was related to LTFU only in the second follow-up. Adjustment for confounders yielded odds ratios for the primary outcome variables (lower urinary tract symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and health status) that approximated the value of 1. LTFU according to these variables was different in men with and without other chronic illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: LTFU seems not to be related to the primary outcome variables in this study. Describing response patterns in longitudinal studies is important, especially in studies involving older participants, as often is the case in urological research.

Age Factors↗

Is biliary pain exclusively related to gallbladder stones? A controlled prospective study.

BACKGROUND: The uncertainty around true clinical manifestations of gallbladder stone disease is in contrast with the unanimous recommendation that only symptomatic gallstones should be treated. AIM: To evaluate the relationship between biliary pain, other gastrointestinal symptoms and gallstones. DESIGN OF STUDY: A pragmatic, prospective cohort questionnaire study. SETTING: Seventy-five general practices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. METHOD: All patients suspected by their general practitioner (GP) to have gallstone disease underwent ultrasound examination of the upper abdomen. Using a self-administered questionnaire, the presence of 11 gastrointestinal symptoms was assessed at inclusion and after 1 year. Likelihood ratios (LRs) for the presence of gallstones and symptom relief rates after 1 year were calculated. The mean difference in health status at inclusion and after follow-up was calculated for patients without gallstones, for patients with gallstones who were operated on and for patients with gallstones who were not operated on. RESULTS: In total, 61% of the patients with gallstones diagnosed by ultrasound scan reported biliary pain, as did 45% of the patients without gallstones (LR = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 1.71). Patients operated on for gallstone disease did not show significant relief of biliary pain compared to patients not operated on for gallstones or patients without gallstones (87%, 63% and 83%, respectively). Health status improved in all patients. The mean improvement in health status did not differ between the three patient groups. GPs were able to discriminate between patients with high and low probability of gallbladder stones by ultrasound examination (53% versus 23%). This selection, however, did not predict the outcome of cholecystectomy. CONCLUSION: Neither biliary pain nor any other gastrointestinal symptom was consistently related to gallstone disease. Therefore, the indication for elective cholecystectomy cannot be based on the presence of biliary pain alone. Relief of biliary pain in patients operated on for gallstones should not simply be attributed to a successful cholecystectomy.

Abdominal Pain↗

Voiding symptoms in chronic pelvic pain (CPP).

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of voiding symptoms in CPP patients. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP), aged 23-79 (mean: 48) years completed a questionnaire mainly addressing lower abdominal pain and voiding symptoms. Symptoms occurring often, almost always, or always for more than 6 months were considered present and serious. A group of 31 consecutive cases of non-CPP women aged 18-77 (mean: 49) years were selected to serve as controls. RESULTS: The following symptoms were found in the CPP group: incontinence: 43%; inadequate voluntary control of the urethral sphincter: 50%; inability to postpone: 37%; urge: 37%; nocturia > or =2X: 18%; dysuria: 12%; cystitis: 37%; urge-induced pain: 20%; pain-induced urge: 18%; strain to initiate voiding: 6%; strain to continue voiding: 17%; incomplete voiding: 37%. Two or more voiding symptoms were present in 63% of the CPP group. All urinary symptoms were more often present in the CPP group than in the controls. CONCLUSION: A substantial subgroup of CPP patients has voiding symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Questionnaire as diagnostic tool in chronic pelvic pain (CPP): a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: No standard screening instrument is available enabling physicians to assign the diagnosis chronic pelvic pain (CPP) to women with lower abdominal pain. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate an easy-to-use questionnaire, which can be applied as a validated primary screening test for diagnosing CPP. STUDY DESIGN: From the general female population, 577 women completed a questionnaire addressing chronic symptoms in the pelvic region. Included were (amongst others) questions on lower abdominal pain, low back pain, voiding symptoms, dyspareunia, pelveo-perineal dysesthetic feelings and evacuation problems. Serious chronic lower abdominal pain of unknown origin was considered as CPP. Three criteria were applied to validate the questionnaire: construct validity, comparison with results of a previous study and content validity. In addition, the internal consistency was checked to ascertain the reliability of the questionnaire. RESULTS: All items, with the exception of those concerning voiding symptoms and dyspareunia, withstood the validity tests applied, were interrelated and occurred significantly more often in women with CPP than those without. There were no significant differences in the frequency of the occurrence of low back pain, dyspareunia and evacuation problems between CPP women in the current community study and outpatients diagnosed with CPP in an earlier study performed at the University Hospital Rotterdam. Compared to our current study group, pelveo-perineal dysesthesia (PPD) and voiding symptoms were significantly more often reported by the CPP outpatients. CONCLUSION: The CPP questionnaire can be considered as a validated tool for primary screening of CPP.

Adult↗

Normal values and determinants of circadian urine production in older men: a population based study.

PURPOSE: We evaluated circadian urine production and its determinants in a large population based sample of older men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected data on 1,688 men 50 to 78 years old, without radical prostatectomy, prostate or bladder cancer, neurogenic bladder disease or negative advice from their general practitioner, recruited from the population of Krimpen, the Netherlands. Measurements consisted of self-administered questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score, a 3-day frequency-volume chart, transrectal prostatic ultrasound, uroflowmetry and post-void residual volume. Hourly urine production was determined and urine production day-to-night ratio was calculated from the frequency-volume chart. RESULTS: Men younger than 65 years showed a clear circadian urine production pattern, whereas in older men this pattern was less clear. Smoking, use of diuretic drugs, post-void residual and 24-hour polyuria reinforced the circadian pattern, in favor of daytime urine production. The urine production day-to-night ratio was not associated with prostate enlargement, reduced urinary flow rate, body weight, hypertension, cardiac symptoms, diabetes mellitus, use of antidepressants, cardiac or hypnotic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Urine production in men younger than 65 years showed a clear circadian pattern in contrast to men older than 65 years. These data can be used as a reference when describing urine production patterns in select populations. In daily practice frequency-volume charts can be used to determine urine production. This method is inexpensive, easy to use and provides valid information on urine production in a natural environment.

Aged↗

Relation between nocturnal voiding frequency and nocturnal urine production in older men:a population-based study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the normal values for nocturnal urine production and its determinants, as well as the relation between nocturnal urine production and voiding frequency. METHODS: Data were collected from 1688 men aged 50 to 78 years without bladder or prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, neurogenic bladder dysfunction, or negative advice from their general practitioner. Measurements included self-administered questionnaires, a 3-day frequency-volume chart, transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate, uroflowmetry, and postvoid residual urine volume measurement. The mean nocturnal urine production was computed from the frequency-volume charts. Linear regression analyses were performed to determine associated factors for nocturnal urine production. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were used to describe the discriminative value of nocturnal urine production on nocturnal voiding frequency. A cutoff value for "increased" nocturnal urine production was defined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The nocturnal urine production was 60.6 mL/hr for the total study population; it increased with age and was significantly higher in men with 24-hour polyuria. Nocturnal urine production was on average higher in men with increased nocturnal voiding frequency, but had only a reasonable discriminative value on nocturnal voiding frequency (areas under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.71 and 0.76). Nocturnal urine production exceeding 90 mL/hr is suggested as abnormal. CONCLUSIONS: On average, nocturnal voiding frequency is indicative of nocturnal urine production. However, nocturnal urine production is only a modest discriminator for increased nocturnal voiding frequency. Therefore, the use of nocturnal urine production as an explanatory variable for nocturnal voiding frequency in daily practice is of little value.

Age Factors↗

Health status and its correlates among Dutch community-dwelling older men with and without lower urogenital tract dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To study health status and its correlates in older men with and without lower urogenital tract dysfunction. METHODS: Cross-sectional population-based study on 1688 men aged 50-78 years without bladder or prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy, neurogenic bladder dysfunction or a negative advice from their general practitioner. Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires, including Sickness Impact Profile (SIP, three domains), Inventory of Subjective Health (ISH), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and International Continence Society (ICS) Male Sex questionnaire, medication use, socio-economic and lifestyle factors. Additional information was collected by measurement of blood pressure, transrectal ultrasonography of the prostate and uroflowmetry. Four health status domains were analyzed using the ISH and three domains of the SIP. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were categorised using IPSS, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction were defined using the ICS questionnaire. RESULTS: All urogenital characteristics and parameters were related to at least two of the health status domains. Multivariate regression analyses yielded that LUTS and cardiac symptoms were associated with suboptimal scores of all four domains. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and drugs for abdominal symptoms were related to three domains; erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, muskuloskeletal or psycho(ana)leptic drugs and marital status to two domains. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of LUTS on health status was equally important as the impact of cardiac symptoms. The impact of sexual dysfunction was smaller than expected. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine how health status and illnesses interact.

Aged↗

Compliance of general practitioners with a guideline-based decision support system for ordering blood tests.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines are viewed as a mechanism for disseminating a rapidly increasing body of knowledge. We determined the compliance of Dutch general practitioners with the recommendations for blood test ordering as defined in the guidelines of the Dutch College of General Practitioners. METHODS: We performed an audit of guideline compliance over a 12-month period (March 1996 through February 1997). In an observational study, a guideline-based decision support system for blood test ordering, BloodLink, was integrated with the electronic patient records of 31 general practitioners practicing in 23 practices (16 solo). BloodLink followed the guidelines of the Dutch College of General Practitioners. We determined compliance by comparing the recommendations for test ordering with the test(s) actually ordered. Compliance was expressed as the percentage of order forms that followed the recommendations for test ordering. RESULTS: Of 12 668 orders generated, 9091 (71%) used the decision-support software rather than the paper order forms. Twelve indications accounted for >80% of the 7346 order forms that selected a testing indication in BloodLink. The most frequently used indication for test ordering was "vague complaints" (2209 order forms; 30.1%). Of the 7346 order forms, 39% were compliant. The most frequent type of noncompliance was the addition of tests. Six of the 12 tests most frequently added to the order forms were supported by revisions of guidelines that occurred within 3 years after the intervention period. CONCLUSIONS: In general practice, noncompliance with guidelines is predominantly caused by adding tests. We conclude that noncompliance with a guideline seems to be partly caused by practitioners applying new medical insight before it is incorporated in a revision of that guideline.

Blood Chemical Analysis↗

Joint space narrowing and relationship with symptoms and signs in adults consulting for hip pain in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: To study whether clinical symptoms and signs can predict radiological osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip in primary care patients with hip pain. METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 220) aged 50 years or older consulting the general practitioner for hip pain and referred for radiological investigation underwent a standardized history, radiological, laboratory, and physical examination. Radiological OA was confirmed with joint space < or = 2.5 mm. Additionally, a more stringent definition was used (< or = 1.5 mm). The relationship between radiological OA and possible clinical symptoms/signs of OA was tested. Combinations of clinical symptoms/signs that had shown an independent relationship with radiological OA in multivariate analyses were tested for their predictive value. RESULTS: Radiological OA (joint space < or = 2.5 mm) of the (more) symptomatic hip was present in 35.5% of the study population and more severe OA (joint space < or = 1.5 mm) in 11.4%. Presence of 4 specific symptoms/signs from history and examination showed a positive predictive value (PPV) of 73% (specificity 91%, sensitivity 45%) for radiological OA. When 5 specific symptoms/signs were present, the PPV for the more severe radiological OA was 82% (specificity 98%, sensitivity 72%), and when 6 or 7 specific symptoms/signs were present the PPV was 100% (specificity 100%, sensitivity 40% and 8%, respectively). Negative predictive values were high for almost all combinations. CONCLUSION: In primary care patients with hip pain, clinical symptoms and signs can to a moderate extent predict radiological OA and to a large extent more severe radiological OA.

Female↗

Pain in children and adolescents: a common experience.

Little is known about the epidemiology of pain in children. We studied the prevalence of pain in Dutch children aged from 0 to 18 years in the open population, and the relationship with age, gender and pain parameters. A random sample of 1300 children aged 0-3 years was taken from the register of population in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. In the Rotterdam area, 27 primary schools and 14 secondary schools were selected to obtain a representative sample of 5336 children aged 4-18 years. Depending on the age of the child, a questionnaire was either mailed to the parents (0-3 years) or distributed at school (4-18 years). Of 6636 children surveyed, 5424 (82%) responded; response rates ranged from 64 to 92%, depending on the subject age and who completed the questionnaire. Of the respondents, 54% had experienced pain within the previous 3 months. Overall, a quarter of the respondents reported chronic pain (recurrent or continuous pain for more than 3 months). The prevalence of chronic pain increased with age, and was significantly higher for girls (P<0.001). In girls, a marked increase occurred in reporting chronic pain between 12 and 14 years of age. The most common types of pain in children were limb pain, headache and abdominal pain. Half of the respondents who had experienced pain reported to have multiple pain, and one-third of the chronic pain sufferers experienced frequent and intense pain. These multiple pains and severe pains were more often reported by girls (P<0.001). The intensity of pain was higher in the case of chronic pain (P<0. 001) and multiple pains (P<0.001), and for chronic pain the intensity was higher for girls (P<0.001). These findings indicate that chronic pain is a common complaint in childhood and adolescence. In particular, the high prevalence of severe chronic pain and multiple pain in girls aged 12 years and over calls for follow-up investigations documenting the various bio-psycho-social factors related to this pain.

Adolescent↗