BPH: Costs And Treatment Outcomes

The document discussed treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), highlighting pharmacotherapy as the primary approach for managing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). It noted that alpha1-selective adrenergic receptor (a1-AR) antagonists and 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-aRIs) were effective in symptom relief and preventing complications. Among these, a1-AR antagonists, particularly the subtype-selective tamsulosin, were found to be more cost-effective than 5-aRIs like finasteride and comparable in cost to surgical and minimally invasive options. However, nonsubtype-selective a1-AR antagonists could cause adverse vasodilatory effects. The document emphasized the need for more cost-effectiveness studies, especially considering adverse events, to guide treatment selection for BPH patients.