RISK OF BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA WITH REFERENCE TO SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS: A BRIEF STUDY

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-malignant condition with poorly characterized epidemiology affecting older men . Androgens play a vital role in its development. The most common manifestations of BPH known as lower urinary tract symptoms, are hesitancy, straining, weak flow, prolonged voiding, partial or complete urinary retention and increased frequency of micturition. It was estimated to affect approximately 10% of men in their 30s, 20% of men in their 40s, 60% of men in their 60s, 80% of men in their 70s, and 90% of men in their 80s. It has been found that BPH and prostate cancer is highly prevalent among Africans and Africans in the Diaspora. Interestingly not enough study is available related to Socioeconomic group and risk of BPH. Methodology: In the current study sixty (60) diagnosed and randomly selected cases of BPH were categorized as per the standard socioeconomic scale, Kuppuswamy`s Socioeconomic status scale. Results: The study reveals that majority (40%) of randomly selected BPH patients belong to upper-lower class followed by (31.66%) lower-middle, (26.67%) upper middle and only 1.65% belongs to upper Socioeconomic class.  Conclusion: From this study it was concluded that BPH is more common in men belonging to moderate socioeconomic classes and less common in extremes.