Natural history of post-void residual urine volume over 5 years in community-dwelling older men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project.

AIMS: To describe the natural history of post-void residual urine volume (PVR) in community-dwelling older men.

METHODS: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project involves a representative sample of community-dwelling men aged 70 and older in a defined geographic area of Sydney, Australia. PVR were measured at baseline and 2-year and 5-year follow-up. The measurements were considered valid when the voided volumes were 150 mL and over. Three-hundred twenty-nine men without conditions that are likely to alter PVR (neurological disorders, prostate cancer, and a history of urological treatment) were included in the analyses.

RESULTS: Baseline PVR were 0-49 mL in 183 men, 50-99 mL in 59 men, 100-199 mL in 72 men, 200-399 mL in 11 men, and 400 mL and over in 4 men. Thirteen out of 314 (4%) men with a baseline PVR of 0-199 mL and 2 out of 11 (18%) men with a baseline PVR of 200-399 mL had surgery for benign prostate enlargement (BPE) or indwelling catheterization over 5 years compared to three out of four men (75%) with a PVR of 400 mL and over. In all 101 men with a baseline PVR of less than 400 mL who did not receive urological treatment during follow-up and had valid PVR data for both 2-year and 5-year follow-up, PVR did not exceed 400 mL at either follow-up time point.

CONCLUSION: Conservative management may be appropriate for most older men with incidentally found elevated PVR of up to 400 mL.