Epidemiology and pathophysiology of LUTS/BPO

The prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is strongly related to age, ranging from 8 % in men in their 50s to roughly 90 % in men older than 80 years. Although aging represents the strongest risk factor for this, chronic progressive disease, obesity, and metabolic syndrome have been recently shown to be associated with an increased risk of BPH. The etiology of BPH is still largely unsolved. However, tissue remodeling together with hormonal alterations and chronic inflammation have been recently proposed to be involved in its pathogenesis. The onset of symptoms is determined by prostatic enlargement, which consequently leads to bladder outlet obstruction and changes in the detrusor muscle function, finally resulting in LUTS.