Long-term alpha-blockers and anticholinergic combination treatment for men with lower urinary tract symptoms in real-life practice

To analyze the treatment outcomes and clinical courses for men with lower urinary tract symptoms, after long-term treatment of alpha-blocker and anticholinergic combination in real-life practice.

A total of 210 men, with lower urinary tract symptoms, had combination therapy for 3 months. Patients were reevaluated and were decided on an alpha-blocker single treatment or a combination therapy, according to the patient-reported outcome for 2 years. The patient responses in 2-year treatment were divided into 3 groups, which depended on clinical courses: 56 patients had an alpha-blocker single therapy after 3-month combination therapy (group I); 106 patients had a continuous alpha-blocker therapy with intermittent 3-month anticholinergic therapy (group II); 48 patients with continuous storage symptoms maintained a combination therapy (group III). Endpoints included 2-year changes in International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Qmax, and residual volume.

Group III had significantly increased IPSS total and subscores compared to that of the other groups in the baseline characteristics. IPSS total and subscores significantly decreased at 3 months and were maintained for 2 years in all groups. Increase in Qmax was significant in all the groups at 3 months, and its increase was still significant after 2 years. Residual urine volume increased in all the groups at 3 months, but changes at 2 years were not statistically significant.

After 3 months of alpha-blocker and anticholinergic combination treatment, 73.4 % of the patients still needed a combination therapy. Although only one patient developed acute urinary retention, voiding difficulty was common (13.3 %), after a combination treatment in the real-life practice.