SINGAPORE- One in four men in Singapore with an enlarged prostate suffer from anxiety and depression, a new study has found.

An enlarged prostate causes urinary problems and may lead to kidney failure in the worst cases. Many men with the condition often wake up frequently the middle of the night to urinate, which affects their spouse's sleep. Some may experience difficulty with urinating. Those with enlarged prostates may also experience erectile dysfunction.

In North America, one in three men suffer from symptoms of an enlarged prostate.

"Singaporean men might be more accepting of their conditions and think that this is just a side effect of ageing," said Professor E Kesavan, from the National University Hospital. "In fact, it can be treated with medicine and surgery," added the head and senior consultant at the department of urology.

The study on depression was done by nurse Pinto Julian and involved 97 men of all races. The prostate, a male organ between the bladder and penis, is key to producing seminal fluid. It grows larger as men age and enlarged prostates are common in men over 50.

One in 10 men aged over 40 had enlarged prostates in 1995. That has now doubled and the figure is expected to increase with Singapore's ageing population.