American Urological Society (AUA) symptom index

Clinical significance

• management of benign prostatic hypertrophy depends on the severity of symptoms & whether or not the patient is bothered by these symptoms

Procedure

Severity of symptoms may be assessed by the AUA symptom index, a scale with 7 items concerning urinary symptoms 'during the past month or so'.

The questions address:

• not emptying the bladder
• frequency of less than 2 hours
• stopping & starting urination
• difficulty postponing urination
• weak urinary stream
• having to push or strain to begin urination
• nighttime urination

The 1st 6 questions are scored:

0 = not at all

1 = < 1 time in 5

2 = < 1/2 the time

3 = > 1/2 the time

4 = almost always

The nighttime urination score is the typical number of times the person gets up at night to urinate.

All of the items are summed for a total score.

Test interpretation:

   0:  asymptomatic
 1-7:  mildly symptomatic
8-19: moderately symptomatic
> 20: severely symptomatic

Mildly symptomatic patients are generally managed with watchful waiting

Notes

• compare with International Prostate Symptom Score

More general terms

• numerical rating scale (NRS)

Additional terms

• American Urological Association (AUA)
• benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
• International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)