Men Admitted with Urinary Retention Face Increased Mortality Risk

Up to 25% of men admitted to hospitals with acute urinary retention may die within a year, BMJ reports.
Researchers examined data on some 175,000 British men 45 or older, admitted for first episodes of acute urinary retention between 1998 and 2005.
Among the findings:
Overall, 7% of men with spontaneous urinary retention and 15% of those with an underlying cause for retention died within 90 days; 15% and 25%, respectively, died within a year.
The youngest men had the greatest mortality increase relative to the general population: among those aged 45 to 54, spontaneous urinary retention increased mortality 10-fold, and attributable-cause retention, 24-fold.
Mortality rates increased with the number of comorbid conditions.
Given the excess risk conferred by comorbidity, the authors conclude: "Men with acute urinary retention should undergo a comprehensive investigation for comorbid disease."