American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index is a self-help questionaire that helps men gauge the severity of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The test asks 7 questions related to common symptoms of BPH.
The frequency of each symptom is then rated on a scale of 1 to 5. These numbers added together provide a score that is used to evaluate the severity of a man's enlarged prostate. An AUA score of 0 to 7 indicates a mild condition; 8 to 19 indicates a moderate condition; and 20 to 35 indicates a severe urinary problem.
Questions:
- Had the sensation of not completely emptying your bladder after you finished urinating?
- Had to urinate again less than 2 hours after you finished urinating?
- Found that you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?
- Found it difficult to postpone urination?
- Had a weak urinary stream?
- Had to push or strain to begin urination?
- Had to get up to urinate from the time you went to bed at night until you got up in the morning?
For questions 1 to 6 use the following point scale:
- 0 = Not at all
- 1 = Less than once in 5 times you have urinated
- 2 = Less than half the time
- 3 = About half the time
- 4 = More than half the time
- 5 = Almost always
For question 7 use the following point scale:
- 0 = None
- 1 = 1 time
- 2 = 2 times
- 3 = 3 times
- 4 = 4 times
- 5 = 5 times or more
An eighth question asks about the quality of life:
8. If you were to spend the rest of your life with your urinary condition just the way it is now, how would you feel about that?
- Delighted
- Pleased
- Mostly satisfied
- Mixed
- Mostly dissatisfied
- Unhappy
- Terrible
Add up the scores. 0 to 7 is mild, 8 to 19 is moderate, and over 20 is considered severe.