Objective: To assess several socioeconomic variables and their association withbenign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Patients and methods: A hospital based prospective study comprised 209 patients (aged 36 - 90years, mean age for 9.5 years) surgically treated for BPH within one year of its diagnosis (cases).All cases were from rural area. We classified men with clinical BPH at the follow - up if theyreported (1) frequent or difficulty urinating and were told by a health professional that they had a nenlarged or swollen prostate or (2) if they reported having surgery for BPH. Each participantcompleted a standardized questionnaire, including socioeconomic status, use of cigarettes,alcohol and coffee consumption. The questionnaire also elicited detailed information on themedical history of prostatic and (over the past month) lowers urinary tract symptoms, applying allquestions from the American Urology Association instrument.