The importance of standardisation and validation of symptom scores and quality of life: the urologist's point of view.

Measurement of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is extremely important as it is these symptoms which account for much of the morbidity associated with this disease. The symptoms of BPH interfere with factors affecting the patient's health status and quality of life and it is therefore important that uniform and consistent measures are available in order to compare patients and to facilitate monitoring of disease progression. A variety of tools are available to measure lower urinary tract symptoms, perhaps the best known being the International Prostate Symptom Score. It is also important to determine the degree of bothersomeness of symptoms and there are a number of disease-specific and generic instruments currently available for measuring the patient's quality of life. In conclusion, when treating BPH, the goal is to decrease symptoms and, in the process, quality of life will almost certainly be improved.