2. METHODS
2.1 Introduction
For the 2026 EAU Guidelines on Non-Neurogenic MLUTS, new and relevant evidence was identified, collated and appraised through a structured assessment of the literature. A broad and comprehensive literature search, covering all sections of the Non-Neurogenic MLUTS Guidelines was performed. The search was limited to studies representing high levels of evidence, i.e. systematic reviews (SRs) with meta-analysis, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective non-randomised comparative studies, published in the English language. Databases searched included Medline, EMBASE and the Cochrane Libraries, covering a time frame between 1 May 2023 and 1 May 2025. A total of 2,036 unique records were identified, retrieved and screened for relevance.
Detailed search strategies for the 2026 Guidelines are available online:
https://uroweb.org/guidelines/management-of-non-neurogenic-male-luts/publications-appendices.
Recommendations within the Guidelines are developed by the Panels to prioritise clinically important care decisions. The strength of each recommendation is determined by the balance between desirable and undesirable consequences of alternative management strategies, the quality of the evidence (including certainty of estimates) and the nature and variability of patient values and preferences. This decision process, which can be reviewed in the strength rating forms that accompany each Guidelines recommendation, addresses several key elements:
- the overall quality of the evidence that exists for the recommendation [1];
- the magnitude of the effect (individual or combined effects);
- the certainty of the results (precision, consistency, heterogeneity and other statistical or study-related factors);
- the balance between desirable and undesirable outcomes; and
- the impact and certainty of patient values and preferences on the intervention.
Strong recommendations typically indicate a high degree of evidence quality and/or a favourable balance of benefit to harm and patient preference. Weak recommendations typically indicate availability of lower-quality evidence and/or equivocal balance between benefit and harm, and uncertainty or variability of patient preference [2].
Additional methodology information and a list of associations endorsing the EAU Guidelines can be found online: https://uroweb.org/eau-guidelines/methodology-policies.
2.2. Review
The 2026 Non-Neurogenic MLUTS Guidelines were peer reviewed prior to publication.
2.3. Patients to whom the Guidelines apply
Recommendations apply to men who seek professional help for LUTS in various non-neurogenic and nonmalignant conditions such as BPO, dysfunctional voiding (DV), detrusor overactivity (DO)/overactive bladder (OAB), UI and/or nocturnal polyuria (NP). Specific context usually requires a more extensive workup, for example, concomitant neurological diseases, young age, prior LUT disease or surgery, which is not covered in these Guidelines but may include several tests indicated in the following Sections. Guidelines on Neuro-Urology, Urological Infections, Urolithiasis or malignant diseases of the LUT have been developed by other EAU Guidelines Panels and are available online: www.uroweb.org/guidelines/.