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BPH: costs and treatment outcomes.
1Empire 4, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. jcn@post.queensu.ca
The American Journal of Managed Care
|April 15, 2006
Summary
Alpha1-selective adrenergic receptor antagonists are effective for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). They offer comparable efficacy and better cost-effectiveness than other BPH treatments.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).
- Pharmacotherapy, including alpha1-selective adrenergic receptor (a1-AR) antagonists and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-aRIs), is a primary treatment for LUTS due to BPH.
- Surgical interventions are also available for BPH management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of current BPH treatments.
- To compare pharmacologic interventions for LUTS caused by BPH.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on BPH treatments.
- Analysis of cost-effectiveness studies comparing pharmacologic and interventional therapies for BPH.
Main Results:
- Alpha1-AR antagonists demonstrate comparable efficacy in relieving LUTS and improving quality of life.
- Nonsubtype-selective a1-AR antagonists may cause vasodilatory adverse events.
- Alpha1-AR antagonists, particularly tamsulosin, are more cost-effective than 5-aRIs and comparable to surgical BPH treatments.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacotherapy, especially a1-AR antagonists, is a cost-effective mainstay for managing BPH and LUTS.
- Further cost-effectiveness analyses, including adverse event impacts, are needed for optimal treatment selection in BPH.