This study evaluates the efficacy of the Nocturia Severity Quality Score (NSQS) as a simplified tool for assessing the severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men, comparing it to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the established standard.
We conducted a cross-sectional analysis on 697 men aged ≥40 from two urban urology clinics in Brazil. Participants completed both the IPSS and the NSQS, the latter consisting of a single question assessing nocturia frequency on a scale from 0 to 4. Diagnostic accuracy was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to compare the NSQS against the IPSS.
The NSQS effectively distinguished between moderate/severe and mild/asymptomatic LUTS, achieving an area under the ROC curve of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.72-0.79). NSQS thresholds of ≥2 and ≥3 episodes per night corresponded to increased likelihoods of moderate to severe LUTS, with significant diagnostic value despite varying sensitivities and specificities.
The NSQS provides a valid, efficient alternative to the IPSS for the initial assessment of LUTS severity in men.
Cureus. 2025 Jan 07*** epublish ***
Caroline S Silva, Carlos S Bellucci, Matheus A Alvaia, Eduardo Miranda, Jose Murillo B Netto, Cristiano Gomes, Ricardo B Tiraboschi, Jose Bessa
Public Health, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, BRA., Urology, Uroclinica de Joinville, Joinville, BRA., Urology, Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, BRA., Urology, Unichristus, Fortaleza, BRA., Urology, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, BRA., Urology, Hospital das Clinicas, Sao Paulo, BRA.