Does anamnestic symptom evaluation or clinical examination give enough information to evaluate the severity of obstruction in benign prostatic hyperplasia?

In this study we have investigated 70 men fulfilling the usual criteria accepted for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURF). The anamnestic evaluation included the Madsen-Iversen symptom score and a quality of life questionnaire. The clinical examination included suprapubic pressure flow measurement, free urinary flow, the determination of residual urine and the ultrasound evaluation of the size of the prostate. The clinical data were correlated with the grade of obstruction according to Schafer calculated from the pressure/flow studies. No correlation was found between the grade of obstruction and anamnestic symptom data, the size of the prostate or residual urine. A slight correlation was found between the Schafer grade of obstruction and the how curve pattern or peak flow.