Prevalence of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome among 40-69-year-old men residing in a temperate climate

Objective. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of the chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) among middle-aged men in a region with a temperate climate, i.e. a community in western Sweden. Material and methods. Men aged 40-69 years who, on the basis of postal invitation, volunteered to participate in a study regarding erectile dysfunction as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, were asked also to complete the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). Results. In total, 459 of 900 men responded to the invitation. CP/CPPS-like symptoms, i.e. perineal and/or ejaculatory pain and an NIH-CPSI pain score of 4 or greater, were reported by 23 men (5%). More severe symptoms, with a pain score of at least 8 and perineal and/or ejaculatory pain, were reported by 15 men (3.3%). Conclusions. In this cross-sectional population-based study 5% had NIH-CPSI scores suggestive of CP/CPPS, which is in the lower range compared with studies from other regions, refuting the idea that CP/CPPS should be more common in regions with a temperate climate.