OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is known in Western European countries and in North America, but epidemiological data are lacking for Eastern European and Balkan countries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of BPH in this region. METHODS: We analysed the data obtained on patients with BPH reported by urologists from 48 hospitals in Turkey, in 1996. This analysis is based on 84,149 case files for patients aged 40 to 80 years and more. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of clinical BPH was 18.5%. The age-specific predominance of BPH reached a maximum for the 60-69 years age-group. A majority of cases of BPH were treated medically (54.7% of cases). CONCLUSION: The data are discussed in the light of our current knowledge. Our presentation is the first report concerning the prevalence of clinical BPH in our region, but it needs to be completed to determine the prevalence of clinical BPH in relation to age, country and race in the Balkans and the Middle East.
OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is known in Western European countries and in North America, but epidemiological data are lacking for Eastern European and Balkan countries. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of BPH in this region. METHODS: We analysed the data obtained on patients with BPH reported by urologists from 48 hospitals in Turkey, in 1996. This analysis is based on 84,149 case files for patients aged 40 to 80 years and more. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of clinical BPH was 18.5%. The age-specific predominance of BPH reached a maximum for the 60-69 years age-group. A majority of cases of BPH were treated medically (54.7% of cases). CONCLUSION: The data are discussed in the light of our current knowledge. Our presentation is the first report concerning the prevalence of clinical BPH in our region, but it needs to be completed to determine the prevalence of clinical BPH in relation to age, country and race in the Balkans and the Middle East.