AUA Symptom Score for BPH

Evaluates impact and severity of urinary symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Refer to the text below the calculator for more information about the interpretation of symptom severity and the psychometric properties of the score.

The AUA Symptom Score for BPH was developed by the American Urological Association to assess dysfunction from urinary symptoms and to help clinicians assess the effectiveness of treatment.

The first 7 items are part of the final score whilst the remaining 3 form part of a Quality of Life Scale.

Each of the 7 items on the AUA Symptom Score for BPH are scored on the following scale:

  • None (0)
  • Less than 1 time in 5 (1)
  • Less than half the time (2)
  • About half the time (3)
  • More than half the time (4)
  • Almost always (5)
AUA score Symptom severity
0 – 7 Mild
8 – 19 Moderate
20 – 35 Severe
1Incomplete emptying: Over the past month, how often have you had a sensation of not emptying your bladder completely after you finished urinating?
2Frequency: Over the past month, how often have you had to urinate again less than 2 hours after you finished urinating?
3Intermittency: Over the past month, how often have you found that you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?
4Urgency: Over the past month, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?
5Weak-stream: Over the past month, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?
6Straining: Over the past month, how often have you had to push or strain to begin urination?
7Nocturia: Over the past month, how many times did you most typically get up to urinate from the time you went to bed at night until the time you got up in the morning?

Optional

These items are not part of the score, however please rate your current satisfaction.
How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about your enlarged prostate treatment? Select one answer for each.
8I am completely satisfied with the symptom relief I’m getting with my current enlarged prostate symptoms.
9I do not like the idea of taking daily medications indefinitely to relieve my enlarged prostate symptoms.
10I am bothered by one or more of the side effects of enlarged prostate medications (such as lowered sexual drive, erection problems, dizziness, low blood pressure, nasal congestion).
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Steps on how to print your input & results:

1. Fill in the calculator/tool with your values and/or your answer choices and press Calculate.

2. Then you can click on the Print button to open a PDF in a separate window with the inputs and results. You can further save the PDF or print it.

Please note that once you have closed the PDF you need to click on the Calculate button before you try opening it again, otherwise the input and/or results may not appear in the pdf.

 

The AUA Symptom Score for BPH

The AUA Symptom Score for benign prostatic hyperplasia was developed by the American Urological Association to assess dysfunction from urinary symptoms and to help clinicians assess the effectiveness of treatment. The first 7 items are part of the final score whilst the remaining 3 form part of a Quality of Life Scale.

The 7 items focus on the main enlarged prostate symptoms:

  • Incomplete emptying;
  • Frequency;
  • Intermittency;
  • Urgency;
  • Weak-stream;
  • Straining;
  • Nocturia.

Each of the 7 items on the AUA Symptom Score for BPH are scored on the following scale:

  • None (0);
  • Less than 1 time in 5 (1);
  • Less than half the time (2);
  • About half the time (3);
  • More than half the time (4);
  • Almost always (5).

The AUA scores range from 0 to 35, with scores closer to 0 indicating none or mild symptom severity and scores closer to 35 indicating severe symptoms.

AUA score Symptom severity
0 – 7 Mild
8 – 19 Moderate
20 – 35 Severe

The AUA symptom index is clinically sensible, reliable, valid and responsive. For example, it was validated in a study on 210 BPH patients and 108 control subjects.

On revalidation, the index was internally consistent (Cronbach's α = 0.86) and the score generated had excellent test-retest reliability (r = 0.92). The scores were found to powerfully discriminate between BPH and control subjects (ROC 0.85).

Scores were found to be highly correlated with the global rating of magnitude of the urinary problem, as perceived by patients. The symptom score was also found to be sensitive to change with preoperative scores decreasing after prostatectomy.

 

References

Barry MJ, Fowler FJ Jr, O'Leary MP, Bruskewitz RC, Holtgrewe HL, Mebust WK, Cockett AT. The American Urological Association symptom index for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The Measurement Committee of the American Urological Association. J Urol. 1992; 148(5):1549-57; discussion 1564.

Barry MJ, Fowler FJ Jr, O'leary MP, et al. The American Urological Association Symptom Index for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. J Urol. 2017; 197(2S):S189-S197.

Dornbier R, Pahouja G, Branch J, McVary KT. The New American Urological Association Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Clinical Guidelines: 2019 Update. Curr Urol Rep. 2020; 21(9):32.

Nitti VW, Kim Y, Combs AJ. Correlation of the AUA symptom index with urodynamics in patients with suspected benign prostatic hyperplasia. Neurourol Urodyn. 1994; 13(5):521-529.

Specialty: Urology

System: Urinary

Objective: Screening

No. Of Items: 7+3

Year Of Study: 1992

Article By: Denise Nedea

Published On: July 24, 2020 · 12:00 AM

Last Checked: July 24, 2020

Next Review: July 24, 2025