[Description of a clinical typology specific to men whose urinary symptoms require anticholinergic treatment]

To describe, using cluster analysis methods, the existence of a clinical typology specific to men, who are responding or not to anticholinergic treatment, and identify predictive factors associated with treatment success.

An observational study was conducted in consecutive male patients who were prescribed anticholinergics for the first time. Sociodemographic data, patient characteristics, urinary symptom profile (USP) questionnaire, Ditrovie scale and symptom severity were assessed at inclusion and after 3 months of treatment. A cluster analysis according the hierarchical classification of Ward was used to discriminate two clusters (low and strong persistence of urinary disorders, respectively). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with evolution of treatment satisfaction and symptoms.

Out of 1018 patients evaluated, 410 had available follow-up data. A treatment with anticholinergic was prescribed to all of patient among which solifenacin represented 92.4% and 27.6% of patients received also an alpha-blocker. Cluster analysis identified two populations of responders. Recent symptoms, young age, absence of obesity or associated treatment, and urgency without incontinence were associated with a better clinical outcome under treatment. The USP questionnaire showed voiding difficulties in 12.4% of patients, and the only associated factor was symptom duration before consultation.

Anticholinergics are efficacious for management of storage lower urinary tract symptom management in men. Clinical factors (age, obesity, treatments, urge urinary incontinence) could influence treatment outcome and allow a better patient selection for clinical decision-making.

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