Normative values for the American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUA-7) and Short Form Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) in patients 65 and older presenting for non-urological care

Objective: To determine the scores of two commonly used urologic questionnaires in community dwelling elderly patients receiving non-urologic primary care. Methods: Patients 65 years and older presenting for routine non-urologic primary care from April to July 2004 were eligible for enrollment. They completed a questionnaire evaluating demographics, AUA-7, UDI-6, and one visual analogue quality of life (QOL) question (range 0, pleased to 10, terrible). Total and question specific scores were analyzed. In addition, correlations among urinary symptoms and QOL scores were performed. Results: In 157 patients who satisfied the study criteria, total and question-specific scores for the AUA-7 and UDI-6 were mildly elevated and similar across age groups in both sexes. Question 1 (frequency) rendered the highest score for both women and men from the UDI-6 questionnaire (mean 1.3 and 0.74, respectively). Question 7 (nocturia) rendered the highest score for both women and men from the AUA-7 questionnaire (mean 1.87 and 0.940, respectively). A total of 32 (27%) of 118 women and 6 (15%) of 39 men were found to have high elevation in QOL scores (>5). Conclusion: The total scores for the AUA-7 and UDI-6 were found to be mildly elevated but stable with age over time in this older population. These data provide useful information for urologists regarding baseline ranges for urinary symptoms in the elderly population. Over one-third of women were found to have a significant elevation in QOL scores (>5) which suggest a need for improvement in identifying and addressing urinary symptoms among elderly women.