Objectives: To assess the long-term symptomatic and urodynamic outcomes of men with untreated detrusor underactivity (DUA) as there has been little long-term follow-up information on men with DUA, a cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a significant minority of men.
Patients and methods: Neurologically intact men aged > 18 years who were investigated in our department between 1972 and 1986, diagnosed with DUA, and who initially opted for no specific treatment were invited for a repeat symptomatic and urodynamic evaluation. Identical methods of assessment were used, allowing results to be compared directly.
Results: In all, 224 men were initially diagnosed with DUA; 87 (39%) of these died. Of the 69 men who initially opted for a conservative approach and attended for repeat assessment, 58 (84%) remained untreated, with a mean follow-up of 13.6 years. There were no significant changes in symptoms over the follow-up. The only significant urodynamic finding was an increase in the proportion of patients with detrusor overactivity, but with no apparent worsening of chronic retention. Of the 11 men in who failed the conservative approach, eight proceeded to surgery for LUTS, and three for acute urinary retention.
Conclusions: These results provide important information on the natural history of DUA. In men with DUA presenting with LUTS there are few symptomatic and urodynamic changes with time.