α₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists versus placebo for female lower urinary tract symptoms: A meta-analysis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of α₁-adrenergic receptor antagonists (α₁ARAs) versus placebo for female patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted. The main outcome indices used to measure the effectiveness were the total International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) and maximum urinary flow rate of female patients receiving treatment for LUTS. The I-PSS quality of life (QOL) and average urinary flow rate (AFR) were also observed and analyzed. Two randomized controlled trials with a total of 213 patients were included. Meta-analysis results were as follows: Following 4 weeks of treatment, patients taking α₁ARAs presented a significant advantage over patients under placebo in terms of total I-PSS [standardized mean difference (SMD), -0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.94 to -0.39] but no difference was observed in maximum urinary flow rate (SMD, -0.05; 95% CI, -0.32 to 0.22) between the experimental and control groups. The I-PSS QOL post-treatment was lower in the α₁ARA group compared with that in the placebo group (SMD, -0.86; 95% CI, -1.32 to -0.40) according to one study, and in the other study the improvement of AFR was not significant (SMD, 0.09; 95% CI, -0.25 to 0.43). It was concluded that α₁ARAs are more effective than placebo in female patients with LUTS.