Benign prostatic hyperplasia: a quantitative study about chilean epidemiology

Abstract

Introduction: Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition in older men, characterised by benign enlargement of prostate volume and associated urinary symptoms. In Chile, the lack of studies on its prevalence makes it difficult to target prevention and treatment strategies. Objective: To describe epidemiologically the hospital discharges for benign prostatic hyperplasia in Chile, considering magnitude and variables of time, place and age. Methodology: To address this gap, a retrospective study was conducted in men nationwide between 2002 and 2019, using public records of hospital discharges for benign prostatic hyperplasia from the Chilean Ministry of Health. Age-adjusted discharge rates were calculated to assess variation over time. Results: A 44,79% decrease in hospital admissions for benign prostatic hyperplasia between 2002 and 2019 was revealed. The month with the lowest number of hospital admissions was February and the highest was June. The region with the highest rate of discharges was Arica y Parinacota, being 1,92 times the national rate and 3,16 times that of O'Higgins. In addition, a progressive increase in discharge rates with age was observed. Discussion and Conclusion: Given the scarce national literature on epidemiology, hospital discharges are used to understand epidemiological behaviour. It is crucial to collect incidence and prevalence data to guide public health strategies. Benign prostatic hyperplasia increases with age, while Disability Adjusted Life Years and socioeconomic status are inversely correlated, reflecting longer life expectancy and better health in high socioeconomic status countries.