The association of healthcare seeking behavior for anxiety and depression among patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: A nationwide population-based study

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have a negative impact on the quality of life, and may relate to anxiety and depression. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that LUTS are associated with anxiety and depression using a nationwide population-based database in Taiwan. Data were obtained from a random population sample of about one million enrollees in the National Health Insurance program from 2001 to 2009, and consisted of 22,980 LUTS patients and 45,960 matched controls. The records of healthcare seeking for anxiety and depression were collected 2 years before and after the diagnosis of LUTS. The results showed that patients with LUTS had a significantly higher prevalence of anxiety or depression than the matched controls (11.45% vs. 5.72%). After controlling for sociodemographic variables and other major systemic diseases, the odds ratios for anxiety, depression, either anxiety or depression, and both anxiety and depression, were 2.05, 2.19, 2.14, and 2.56, respectively. There was an association between LUTS and the stress-related common mental disorders, and there seemed to be an additive effect of anxiety and depression on the association with LUTS. These findings imply a psychological role in the pathogenesis or sequelae of LUTS.