Methods and value of home uroflowmetry in the assessment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms: A literature review

摘要

Aims Uroflowmetry is a key clinical assessment for men with LUTS. Home uroflowmetry is a convenient way to obtain multiple flow readings and has the potential to combat problems inherent to clinic-based measurements. We reviewed current evidence regarding the technology and value of multiple and home uroflowmetry. Methods We searched PubMed and Embase from January 1988 to February 2011 using a predetermined strategy. Reference lists from retrieved articles were scanned and additional papers screened for relevance. Proceedings of the annual meetings of the International Continence Society since 2008 were also searched. Relevant guidelines were obtained from the UK NHS Evidence repository. Results Eight studies described five simple, low-cost instruments giving multiple representative estimates of Q max but not a complete flow curve. A further eight studies described home use of four sophisticated, electronic flowmeters similar to clinic-based equipment. The above methods were assessed against ICS recommendations for uroflowmetry and the results of several studies investigating variability of flow parameters such as Q max were presented. Conclusions Our findings illustrate the gulf between low-cost methods of obtaining average or peak flow measurements and precise, expensive devices with the capabilities of clinic flowmeters. Further studies are required to confirm the statistical benefit of averaging multiple values of Q max and to investigate the diagnostic and predictive value of flow variables other than Q max that can be derived from multiple recordings.