Purpose: Patient subjective descriptions of micturition habits using the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index were compared with uroflowmetry recordings obtained during a 24-hour period.
Materials and methods: In a prospective study, the AUA questionnaire was given twice to 42 men. All micturitions during a typical 24-hour period were continuously recorded by a home uroflowmetry system. Daytime frequency, strength and intermittency of the stream, and nocturia were calculated from the recorded data, which were correlated with the matching questionnaire answers.
Results: Except for nocturia, there was no correlation between the answers and recorded findings.
Conclusions: Men are unable to quantify correctly their own clinical status. The study results cast doubt on the validity of the self-administered AUA survey to reflect clinical micturition.