Is uroflow reproducible in healthy boys? A community-based observational study from Southern India

ABSTRACT Introduction: This study evaluates the reproducibility of uroflowmetry in children aged 5-15 years to establish the age at which uroflowmetry is representative. Methods: Of 291 boys screened, uroflowmetry was done in 247 eligible boys. The flow was repeated at two weeks. A total of 227 children were included for analysis. Twenty were excluded due to a voided volume of less than 50ml and an interrupted flow pattern. The maximum flow rate (Qmax), average flow rate (Qavg), voided volume (VV), time to maximum flow, flow time and voiding time were recorded. The reproducibility of all parameters was assessed using the Inter-correlation coefficient (ICC) and correlation using Pearson’s coefficient. Result: Qmax, Qavg showed excellent concordance in boys of 5-15 years [ICC >0.6], implying the flows were reproducible. VV showed excellent concordance in boys aged 8-15 years [ICC >0.6], but only moderate correlation in boys aged 5-7 years [ICC 0.4-0.6], probably due to the wide variation in voided volumes. Qmax and Qavg showed significant correlation in all age groups, with voided volume in first and second flow [Pearson’s coefficient: 0.49 & 0.53 for Qmax1 and Qmax2; 0.48 & 0.51 Qavg1 and Qavg2 respectively], implying reproducibility of flow in this age group. Conclusion: Uroflowmetry is reproducible in children aged 5-15 years. Qmax and Qavg showed excellent reproducibility, and voided volume showed good reproducibility. Qmax shows excellent reproducibility even in the smallest of the age groups studied [5-7 years].