為了解社區中老年男性的排尿問題，我們在民國83年7月到8月間，對台北縣雙溪鄉及高雄縣路竹鄉抽樣500位年齡在40-79歲的男性進行問卷調查，共有282人參加這項研究，而其中272人適合作資料分析。這些人平均年齡60.1歲（平均差：9.0歲）。根據美國泌尿科醫學會所訂的排尿症狀評量表，這群受訪者的平均排尿症狀分數是6.3分。其隨著年齡增加由40～49歲組的3.5分到70～79歲組的9.8分。根據這個評量標，分數在8分或以上的人表示有中等程度以上的排尿問題，則有71例（25.1%）的人有中等程度以上的排尿問題，其中包括了8例（2.9%）屬於嚴重程度者。但是若根據受訪者自己的主觀感覺，只有34例（12.5%）覺得排尿問題，而當中只有7例（2.6%）在過去一年當中曾因為排尿問題而求醫。由這個初步研究顯示，國人中老年男性有排尿問題的比例應該不比西方國家低，而求醫的比例卻相當低，這個問題應該值得進一步的研究。

To understand the prevalence of urinary symptoms in community-dwelling men, 500 men age 40 to 79 years were selected through a multi-stage sampling from Soung-Shi Town and Lu-Chu Town in Taiwan. The urinary symptoms were evaluated by the American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Index, as well as by self-global estimation. Totally 282 men (56.4%) participated in this study and , after excluding men with a history of prostate, urinary bladder and urethral surgery, 272 (54.4%) were eligible for analysis. The mean age of this study group was 60.1 years (SD 9.0 range 42-78). From this group, the mean AUA index was 6.3 (SD 5.8 range 0-29), which increased from 3.5 in men aged 40 to 49 years, 5.8 in men aged 50 to 59 years, 8.0 in men aged 60 to 69 years, to 9.8in men aged 70 to 79 years (P<0.0001). The prevalence of urinary sysptoms, defined as an AUA index of 8 and over, was 26.1%. This included 23.2% with moderate symptoms (score 8 and less than 20) and 2.9% with severe symptoms (score 20 and over). However, when the self-global estimation was employed , only 34(12.5%) admitted to having urinary problems and only 7(2.6%) had sought medical help in the preceding 12 months. We conclude from this study that a significantly higher prevalence of urinary symptoms is present in the urban population than would be predicted from the urological complaints brought to the attention of a physician.