Lower urinary tract dysfunction presents with a wide range of bothersome urinary symptoms, which are common in both men and women, with incidence and prevalence increasing with age. Individuals with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suffer from the chronicity of their symptoms, have a reduced quality of life, and experience high morbidity with associated medical conditions. Various treatment options exist, but many patients do not find satisfactory or lasting relief. The Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network (LURN) was formed in 2012 with the goals of improving methods for assessing patient-reported experiences with LUTS; identifying and describing patient subtypes; and generating data, research tools and biological samples for future studies. LURN developed three self-report instruments for measuring LUTS. More than 1,000 men and women with LUTS seeking treatment were enrolled, and completed a baseline and interval assessments throughout a 12-month observational period. Findings from LURN studies showed that various biological, non-urological, psychosocial and behavioural factors contribute to the development and persistence of LUTS. Additionally, patients seeking care for LUTS often present with a wider variety of urological symptoms than previously thought. Diagnoses for these patients do not reliably fit into traditional categories such as overactive bladder or BPH. LURN has addressed its objectives by creating new, top-tier assessment tools; conducting studies to gather clinically relevant data to identify potential new and accurate patient subtypes; and collecting a wealth of data and biological samples for future research to continue subtype refinement.
Nature reviews. Urology. 2026 May 27 [Epub ahead of print]
Claire C Yang, Ziya Kirkali, Anne P Cameron, H Henry Lai, David Cella, Victor P Andreev, Karl J Kreder, Catherine S Bradley, Brian T Helfand, J Quentin Clemens, Cindy L Amundsen, Abigail R Smith, Kevin P Weinfurt, Symptoms of Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Research Network
Department of Urology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. ., Division of Kidney, Urologic, & Hematologic Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA., Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA., Department of Urology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA., Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA., Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA., Division of Urology, Endeavor Health, Evanston, IL, USA., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA., Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA., Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.