The following is a summary of “10-item LURN Symptom Index (LURN SI-10) Detects Additional Symptoms and Shows Convergent Validity With the IPSS in Men Presenting With Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms,” published in the JANUARY 2023 issue of Urology by Glaser, et al.

For a study, researchers sought to evaluate the LURN-SI-10 questionnaire developed by the Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) in comparison to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The objective was to assess the convergent validity of LURN-SI-10 and determine the frequency at which it identifies symptoms not captured by IPSS.

Men with BPH/LUTS were prospectively administered LURN-SI-10 and IPSS questionnaires. Urinary incontinence (UI), including post-void dribbling (PVD), urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and bladder pain were considered present if the patient reported “about half the time or more” on LURN-SI-10. Correlations between LURN-SI-10 and IPSS were assessed as continuous and categorical variables. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to determine associations with symptom scores.

The results showed that LURN-SI-10 and IPSS were highly correlated in men with BPH/LUTS (r = 0.82, n = 429), as were respective bother and quality of life scores (ρ = 0.74). In addition, the LURN-SI-10 identified additional symptoms, including PVD (24%), UUI (13%), SUI (2%), and pain (8%). Men with any UUI, SUI, or PVD had, on average a 7.6-point higher LURN-SI-10 score than those without UI (P<.001) and an 8.0-point higher IPSS score than those without UI (P<.001).

In conclusion, the LURN-SI-10 correlated strongly with the IPSS, but the LURN-SI-10 identified additional important symptomatology in men with LUTS. The additional information may improve the evaluation and treatment of men with BPH/LUTS. Further prospective studies of the LURN-SI-10 are warranted.

Reference: goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(22)00942-6/fulltext