Uroflowmetry is a modern method for investigating urodynamic disorders of the lower urinary tract, based on the graphical recording of urine flow characteristics. The main advantages of uroflowmetry are its accessibility, physiological nature, non-invasiveness, and absence of contraindications.
Uroflowmetry is both a screening and a highly informative diagnostic method. It makes it possible to detect bladder outlet obstruction in patients with chronic prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer, congenital urethral strictures and valves, bladder neck sclerosis, and other conditions. Uroflowmetry is also used in patients with various forms of urinary incontinence and voiding disorders. Since functional disorders usually appear before pronounced morphological changes, urodynamic screening of the lower urinary tract is an important method for the early diagnosis of urinary tract diseases. Performing uroflowmetry supports evidence-based medicine by providing objective monitoring of treatment effectiveness in patients with lower urinary tract urodynamic disorders.
Up to 73% of subspecialists and up to 46% of general practitioners measure urinary flow rate during the initial examination or consultation using a uroflowmeter (Duggan et al., Int. Urogynecol. J., 2003, 14, 282).
Uroflowmetry is included in the list of investigations recommended by the European Association of Urology for certain urological diseases and conditions, including:
- BPH (+ optional cystometry);
- Prostatitis;
- Bladder diverticulum;
- Enuresis (+ cystometry);
- Spontaneous urinary incontinence (+ obligatory cystometry);
- Stress incontinence (+ cystometry);
- Bladder neuromuscular dysfunction (+ cystometry if necessary);
- Bladder neck obstruction;
- Post-traumatic urethral stricture.
Studies evaluating the clinical diagnostic value of uroflowmetry have shown that this method provides 50-100% sensitivity and more than 70% specificity (Costantini et al., Neurourol. Urodyn., 2003 , 22, 569). The significance of this test for a urologist can be compared with that of an ECG for a cardiologist.
Today, the Flow-K Uroflowmeter developed by our company makes uroflowmetry affordable for clinics and patients thanks to its low cost, high accuracy, and ease of use.