An Objective Uroflowmetry Curve Score and Five Descriptive Curve Groups in Men: A Single‐Centre Retrospective Study
Xin Wang, Guanglei Yao, Wei DingABSTRACT
Aims
Uroflowmetry curve shape is judged by eye, with only fair‐to‐moderate agreement between readers. We aimed to describe male flow curves objectively with one score and a few descriptive groups that other centres can compute.
Methods
Retrospective single‐centre study of male free uroflowmetry (voided volume ≥ 150 mL; 2022–2026). Seven measures described each curve: four from the report (maximum flow rate [Qmax], flow time, time to Qmax, average flow) and three from the stored curve (flow dips, variability, plateau). The score was their first principal component; five descriptive groups were formed by k ‐means clustering. Age, a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) label and post‐void residual (PVR), not used to build either, served as checks.
Results
We analyzed 2414 examinations from 2154 identified men (median age 64 years). The score captured 37% of variation. Groups ranged from low, prolonged, fluctuating curves (group A, 11%) to bell/plateau (D, 27%) and brisk, peaked curves (E, 22%). The score fell with age (Spearman ρ = −0.21; Qmax alone: −0.19) and PVR ( ρ = −0.35, n = 465); median PVR was 89 mL in group A versus 23 mL in D. BPH labeling did not differ between groups ( p = 0.12). A report‐values‐only score correlated 0.91 with the full score.
Conclusions
The score and groups give an objective, shared description of male curve shape for research and audit. The five groups describe a continuum of curve shapes, with no clear‐cut boundaries between them. They track age and PVR about as strongly as Qmax and are not a diagnostic test. Constants, a worked example and code are provided.