Commentary on BPH and Public Health—Have We Lost the Forest Through the Trees?

The commentary highlighted the significant public health burden of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), affecting 75% of men aged 60 to 69 in the U.S., with substantial economic costs and productivity losses. It criticized the shift from surgical treatment to chronic medical management without adequate long-term outcome studies, raising concerns about the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of this approach. The article emphasized the need for clinical trials comparing medication to surgery and called for prevention studies targeting modifiable risk factors like obesity and diet. It urged the urological community to reclaim leadership in BPH management by considering broader public health implications and promoting preventive measures.