Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in People Experiencing Homelessness: An Exploratory Study in a Miami Street Medicine Cohort.
75% of homeless adults surveyed had a high burden of lower urinary tract symptoms.
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in People Experiencing Homelessness: An Exploratory Study in a Miami Street Medicine Cohort.
This study attempts to provide insight into understudied disease burden in this marginalized population.
To explore the prevalence and severity of lower urinary tract symptoms (lower urinary tract symptoms), prior urologic diagnosis, and the impact of bathroom access among people experiencing homelessness (people experiencing homelessness) in Miami, FL.
Were recruited in person, and data on demographics, lower urinary tract symptoms burden, known urologic diagnoses, and bathroom access were collected.
most had significant urinary symptoms, but few knew it
High lower urinary tract symptoms burden affected 72% of men and 82% of women.
Notably, 83% of those with high symptoms had no prior lower urinary tract symptoms or BPH diagnosis.
Symptoms suggestive of urgency-predominant lower urinary tract symptoms were reported by 32% of respondents, and 41% of UDI-6 respondents reported stress urinary incontinence.
Among those with high lower urinary tract symptoms burden, bathroom access was often restricted, including limitations to daytime hours or reliance on outdoor urination.
This exploratory study suggests a substantial burden of largely undiagnosed lower urinary tract symptoms among people experiencing homelessness in Miami, associated with inadequate restroom access.
These preliminary findings underscore the need for larger studies and targeted health interventions to integrate urologic assessment and reliable restroom access into services for this vulnerable population.