Association between Significant Depressive Symptoms and Prostatic Symptoms among Patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

- Background: Depression among the elderly presents with an increased risk of morbidity, impaired physical, cognitive and social functioning, with a negative influence on the prognosis of other chronic diseases. The study was aimed at examining the burden of depression and its relationship with prostatic symptoms among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Participants were evaluated with the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Association between depression and socio-demographic variables was assessed using multiple logistic regression, and between GDS scores, IPSS, and the duration of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using Spearman’s correlation. Results: Of the population studied, 41.1% had significant depressive symptoms. Participants aged 65years and above AOR=1.78, (95% CI=0.61-5.16), secondary education and below AOR =3.63, (95% CI= 1.37- 9.63), p= 0.01, Unemployed AOR=1.99, (95% CI=0.77-5.13), or had Comorbid illness AOR=2.28, (95% CI=0.97-5.34), p= 0.06 were more likely to be depressed. There was positive correlation between GDS scores and IPSS scores (r=0.385, p=0.001), duration of LUTs (r=0.238, p=0.009) and quality of life (QoL) (r=0.227, p=0.013), and between IPSS scores and (QoL) (r=0.348, p=0.001). Conclusion: A higher proportion of participants had significant depressive symptoms, the risk of which is increased by both clinical and socio-demographic variables.