Measuring the urologic iceberg: design and implementation of the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) Survey.

objectivesTo describe the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) survey, a National Institutes of Health-supported epidemiological study of symptoms suggestive of the following urologic conditions: urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, interstitial cystitis, chronic pelvic pain of bladder origin, prostatitis, hypogonadism, erectile dysfunction, and female sexual dysfunction.

methodsBACH used a two-stage stratified cluster design to recruit a community-based random sample of 5506, divided between males (2301) and females (3205), three racial/ethnic groups (black, Hispanic, and white), and four age groups (30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-79 yr). Validated questionnaires were used to collect information on urologic symptoms, comorbidities, prescribed and over-the-counter medications, reproductive history, quality of life, health care utilization, physical activity, depressive symptoms, interpersonal stress, smoking, alcohol use, fluid intake, nutrition, menopausal status, sexual activity, abuse, anthropometrics (measured height, weight, hip and waist circumference, pulse rate, blood pressure), and sociodemographics including country of origin, marital status, employment status, and income. Blood samples were collected from 68% of all subjects.

resultsA large representative community-based sample was successfully recruited to provide both cross-sectional and eventually longitudinal data to address important urologic questions.

conclusionsBACH has features distinguishing it from most other epidemiological studies in urology. It uses a random community-based sample of people who are racially/ethnically diverse and includes a broad age range (30-79 yr). It includes both males and females The study focuses on symptoms rather than variably defined disease conditions, it is multidisciplinary, and it is designed to become longitudinal.