前列腺炎往往被视为一种老年男性疾病,但是在美国,它却是<50 岁男性中最常见的泌尿系统疾病。[8]Potts J, Payne RE. Prostatitis: infection, neuromuscular disorder, or pain syndrome? Proper patient classification is key. Cleve Clin J Med. 2007 May;74(suppl 3):S63-71.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17549825?tool=bestpractice.com 另外,它也是>50 岁男性中第三常见的泌尿系统疾病,虽然在过去十五年里其发病率有所下降。[9]Pontari MA, Joyce GF, Wise M, et al. Prostatitis. J Urol. 2007 Jun;177(6):2050-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17509285?tool=bestpractice.com
不同国家或地区的前列腺炎患病率存在差异:荷兰为 4%,芬兰为 14%,马来西亚为 8%,加拿大为 6.6%,新加坡则为 2.7%。[10]de la Rosette JJ, Hubregtse MR, Karthaus HF, et al. Results of a questionnaire among Dutch urologists and general practitioners concerning diagnostics and treatment of patients with prostatitis syndromes. Eur Urol. 1992;22(1):14-9.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1425844?tool=bestpractice.com[11]Mehik A, Hellstrom P, Lukkarinen O, et al. Epidemiology of prostatitis in Finnish men: a population-based cross-sectional study. BJU Int. 2000 Sep;86(4):443-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10971269?tool=bestpractice.com[12]Cheah PY, Liong ML, Yuen KH, et al. Terazosin therapy for chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: a randomized, placebo controlled trial. J Urol. 2003 Feb;169(2):592-6.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12544314?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Nickel JC, Downey J, Hunter D, et al. Prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in a population based study using the National Institutes of Health chronic prostatitis symptom index. J Urol. 2001 Mar;165(3):842-5.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11176483?tool=bestpractice.com[14]Tan JK, Png DJ, Liew LC, et al. Prevalence of prostatitis-like symptoms in Singapore: a population-based study. Singapore Med J. 2002 Apr;43(4):189-93.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12188063?tool=bestpractice.com 关于前列腺炎的流行病学研究受到以下因素限制:一是来自患者或医生对疾病的回忆;二是医生诊断方面的不可靠性。因为前列腺炎,特别是慢性非细菌性前列腺炎,可有多种症状,因此很难获得各亚型的精确发病率。