Abstract
Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the commonest cause of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in elderly males. It is characterised by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that include voiding/obstructive and storage/irritative symptoms. If untreated, patients could suffer from different associated complications such as hydronephrosis, urinary tract infection and even renal failure. Little is known about the magnitude and pattern of associated complications of BOO secondary to BPH.Objectives: To assess the clinical profile, magnitude and pattern of associated complications of BOO among patients with BPH at Yekatit 12 hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: A retrospective crossectional hospital based analysis of 225 patients who underwent prostatectomy for BOO secondary to BPH over a five year period, from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 was done. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Frequency of micturition, dysuria and nocturia were the commonest presenting symptoms observed in 94.2%, 89.3% and 84.9% of the patients, respectively. One hundred and thirty (57.8%) patients presented to the hospital 2 years after the onset of their symptoms. History of prehospital antibiotic treatment for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) was found in 64.4% of the patients. Associated complications of BOO secondary to BPH were observed in 44% of the patients. Acute urinary retention (AUR) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were the commonest associated complications observed in 50.7% and 30.7% of the patients, respectively. Hydronephrosis (21.8%), renal impairment (19.1%), urinary tract stones (13.3%) and frank haematuria (4.4%) were other complications observed in this series. Conclusion: Storage/irritative LUTS predominate among our patients with BPH. Associated complications of BOO secondary to BPH were prevalent in the study. Acute urinary retention (AUR) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were the commonest associated complications observed. In order to avoid late diagnosis and reduce the occurrence of possible complications, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of BPH even if the storage/ irritative symptoms predominate in elderly males.