By Yoon Ja-young
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, or the enlargement of the gland surrounding the urethra, is increasingly affecting men in the country. The Korean Prostate Society announced that it has noticed steep surge in patients after analyzing data from Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service and the National Health Insurance Service.
The prostate, which is found only in men, is essential for procreation because it secretes fluid essential for the protection of sperm.
However, many go through benign enlargement of the prostate, which makes it hard to urinate. These symptoms are very common, especially among elderly men, according to the Korean Prostate Society, which says that it is found in around 50 percent of those in their 50s, 60 percent of those in their 60s, and 80 percent of those in their 80s or older.
“As the average age in Korea is rapidly advancing and people come to value quality of life, prostatic hyperplasia will rise as one of the most important health issues,” said Prof. Lee Kyung-seop of Dongguk University College of Medicine, who is president of the society.
Aging and male hormones are known to be key factors of the prostate enlargement and there is also a suggestion that it is related to obesity, but the exact mechanism hasn’t been revealed yet, according to the society.
For diagnosis, doctors basically use the “International Prostate Symptom Score,” or a set of questions on feeling of incomplete bladder emptying, frequency, intermittency, urgency, weak stream, straining and nocturia, or urination at night.
If left untreated, symptoms might aggravate, leading to complications such as urinary tract infection, deterioration of kidney and bladder functions, and formation of bladder calculus. However, it doesn’t progress into cancer, the doctor said.
Treatments include medicinal treatment, surgical treatment, and less-invasive treatment using holmium lasers.
“It can be easily diagnosed through a few exams, but the treatment differs depending on the symptoms and severities of the condition. It is necessary to choose treatment appropriate for each individual, taking into account diverse factors,” the professor said.
The society noted that spending on medication and holmium laser treatment for the disease has increased steeply. “As Korea is going through the most rapid aging in the world, medical expenses will become its biggest concern,” the professor said, calling for more attention to be given to it. The society recommended that males in their 40s and 50s or older examine their urination habits.