Epidemiological profile of bladder outlet obstruction among adult males at a tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania

Abstract

Purpose: Bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men frequently causes emergency visits and negatively affects their quality of life (QoL). Its prevalence increases with longer life expectancy, yet limited research exists on its frequency and aetiological patterns in our local context, highlighting a knowledge gap. Materials and methods: A three-year retrospective, hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 1 879 adult male patients who attended the urology clinic at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) between January 2021 and December 2023. The extracted files were assessed to confirm the BOO diagnosis using clinical history, physical examination, and imaging investigations. Aetiological BOO patterns were recorded. All data were cleaned and analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25. Ethical clearance was obtained from the College Research Ethics and Review Committee of the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College. Results: Overall, 3 464 files were extracted and reviewed between January 2021 and December 2023, of which 1 879 males (54%) had urinary BOO. Patients had a median age of 72 years (interquartile range [IQR] 64–80), and most (73.5%) presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The most common BOO aetiology was benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (57%), followed by urethral stricture disease (USD) (20%). USD was the most common aetiology among adult males aged < 60 years. Conclusion: More than half of adult males attending our urology clinic may be experiencing BOO. The most common BOO aetiology in this population is BPH in men aged ≥ 60 years, and USD in adult men aged < 60 years. Adult men aged < 60 years should be screened for USD.