Ketamine-induced lower urinary tract symptoms: a study of International Prostate Symptom Score and Quality of Life

Introduction: Ketamine associated cystitis was first reported in 2007. Although many articles have been published concerning the effects of ketamine on lower urinary tract, not much focus had been put on the Quality of Life (QoL). This study was to assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and QoL in ketamine abusers. Methods: One hundred ketamine abusers with LUTS were included in the study. All patients were interviewed by one of the three trained investigators through face-to-face interview. Their LUTS were evaluated by the survey instrument consisting of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and 7-points Likert-type QoL scale. Results: Sixty-six of them had moderate symptoms and 16 suffered from heavy symptoms. Eighty-one percent patients reported storage symptoms compared to 41% with voiding symptoms. Mono-ketamine abusers (MKA) had higher scores in IPSS, QoL, storage and voiding symptoms than poly-drug abusers (PDA). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that lower educational background, MKA, and longer duration of ketamine abuse were found to be predicting factors on IPSS and QoL. Conclusions: LUTS in ketamine abusers are mostly moderate to severe, and their quality of life were wrecked. Mono-ketamine abusers have more severe LUTS and lower quality of life than poly-drug users. Lower educational level, mono-ketamine abuser and longer duration of abuse are independent predictors of severity of LUTS and QoL.