Drug treatment patterns for the management of men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia who have both storage and voiding symptoms: a study using the health improvement network UK primary care data. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hakimi, Zalmai; Johnson, Michelle; Nazir, Jameel; Blak, Betina; Odeyemi, Isaac A.O.
• Is Part Of: Current medical research and opinion. Volume 31:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 43
• Page End: 50
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1185/03007995.2014.968704
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-7995

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="ss1"> <title>Background:</title> <p>Real-world data on the pharmacological management of men who have lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are limited.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss2"> <title>Objective:</title> <p>To characterize men with LUTS/BPH who had both storage and voiding symptoms and to evaluate treatment patterns in UK primary care.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss3"> <title>Design, setting and participants:</title> <p>This was an observational study of men aged ≥45 years with a diagnosis, symptoms or therapies indicative of LUTS/BPH with both storage and voiding components. These men were identified from the large Health Improvement Network (THIN) database between 1 January 2004 and 30 September 2011.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss4"> <title>Outcome measurements and statistical analysis:</title> <p>Drug prescriptions and switching/discontinuation patterns for α<sub>1</sub>-blockers and antimuscarinics.</p> </sec> <sec id="ss5"> <title>Results and limitations:</title> <p>We identified 8694 men with a median age of 66.0 (interquartile range [IQR], 59.0–74.0) years. Most (7850; 90.3%) received an α<sub>1</sub>-blocker, and 2167 (24.9%) received antimuscarinic therapy over a median of 2.1 years. The most commonly prescribed α<sub>1</sub>-blocker was tamsulosin (81.8%); most frequent antimuscarinics were tolterodine (41.0%), oxybutynin (37.2%) and solifenacin (35.7%). Concomitant prescription of α<sub>1</sub>-blocker and antimuscarinic therapy (within 30 days of each other) was received by 1160 men (14.8% of α<sub>1</sub>-blocker-treated men). Of α<sub>1</sub>-blocker recipients, 3024 (38.5%) discontinued during follow-up, while 1149 (53.0%) discontinued antimuscarinic therapy. Of 2167 men who received an antimuscarinic, 476 (22.0%) switched to another antimuscarinic. Of the three most commonly prescribed antimuscarinics, solifenacin had the lowest proportions of discontinuations (43.0%) and switches (15.3%), and the longest median duration of therapy (90 days, IQR 30–300). General practice consultations accounted for most resource use (5307.9 per 1000 patient-years).</p> </sec> <sec id="ss6"> <title>Conclusions:</title> <p>This study presents real-world management of men with LUTS/BPH who have both storage and voiding symptoms. The low proportion of men who received concomitant α<sub>1</sub>-blocker and antimuscarinic therapy suggests that some patients are sub-optimally treated in routine clinical practice.</p> </sec> </abstract>