OBJECTIVE: National prostatic digital rectal examination (DRE) advocated by the Philippine Urological Association (PUA) started 2 decades ago in the advent of prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening. It is an effective campaign in promoting prostate health awareness among Filipinos. The aim of this research was to describe and correlate the demographics, clinical profile and prostatic physical findings examined by urologists in over 60 centers in the country.
METHODS: This study was an analytical cross-sectional study involving the participants of the 2013-2015 National DRE campaign. The data were retrieved from the PUA secretariat using a convenience-sampling method on completed forms. The data were correlated using a non-parametric measure of statistical dependence between two variables.
RESULTS: The total number of participants was continuously rising [n=978 (2013), n=2052 (2017) and n=2792 (2015)] having 60-70% newly diagnosed cases annually. Participants were mostly on their 6th decade of life, mostly employed, married and an educational attainment of secondary level. The most predominant symptom was nocturia followed by frequency, incomplete emptying and weak stream. The usual prostate size was between 21-30 grams mostly with doughy consistency, nodular and tender. The mean age of having clinically benign prostate enlargement was noted to be consistent at the age of 61 while that of a prostate cancer suspect ranged from 63-69 years old.
CONCLUSION: Filipinos have similar predominant signs and symptoms of prostate disease as compared to Malays, Chinese and Indians. Clinical findings of prostate diseases correlated well with age, prostate size and consistency.