To identify patient groups with non-visible haematuria (NVH) that require urgent assessment to rule out urological cancer and to evaluate the necessity of a full set of investigations, emphasizing the importance of targeted assessments.
Key Findings:
Urological cancer diagnosed in 25 patients (4.8%), with bladder cancer being the most common (3.8%). This highlights the need for careful assessment in NVH cases.
Median age of patients with urological cancer was 77 years, significantly higher than those with benign findings (65 years), suggesting age as a critical factor in risk assessment.
History of smoking was present in 47% of patients, with a 7.3% diagnosis rate of urological cancer among smokers, indicating a potential risk factor.
Interpretation:
Age of 60 years was identified as a critical cutoff for assessing urological cancer risk in NVH patients, with significant implications for referral urgency and clinical practice.
Limitations:
Retrospective design may limit the generalizability of findings and could introduce biases that affect the study's conclusions.
Conclusion:
Urgent assessment for NVH may be warranted particularly in patients aged 60 and above, though not all patients may require extensive investigations, aligning with current clinical guidelines.
