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 |
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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