Geographic disparities in the distribution of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men: results of a multicenter population-based study in Congo

Context: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) represent a major public health issue. To date, no study has explored the geographic distribution of LUTS in the Republic of Congo. Objectives : To determine the prevalence of LUTS in the general population and analyze geographic disparities. Methods This was an analytical, cross-sectional, population-based, multicenter study. It included men aged 40 years and older, recruited from seven cities across the country using non-probability quota sampling proportional to the demographic weight of the regions (northern, central, southern). LUTS were defined according to International Continence Society (ICS) criteria. Results A total of 1,619 participants were included, with a mean age of 62 (SD: 9) years. The overall prevalence of LUTS was 74.0% [95% CI: 71.7–76.2]. Prevalence varied by city, urban area size, and region. Large cities had the highest prevalence (78.0% [75.6–80.4]), compared with 55.8% [48.5–63.8] for small cities. Regionally, prevalence was 77.2% [74.9–79.2] in the southern region versus 55.8% [47.9–63.8] in the central region. After adjustment, residence in a large or medium-sized city remained significantly associated with LUTS (aOR = 3.09 and 1.94, respectively; p < 0.001). The central and northern regions remained protective compared to the southern region (aOR = 0.35; p < 0.001 and aOR = 0.52; p = 0.005, respectively). Conclusion LUTS are highly prevalent in the general population in Congo and demonstrate significant geographic disparity.