Medical consumption and costs during a one-year follow-up of patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH in six european countries: report of the TRIUMPH study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the medical consumption and associated treatment costs of patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH.


METHODS
A prospective, cross-sectional, observational survey in six European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom, with a one-year follow-up of incident and prevalent patients.


RESULTS
Treatment costs were estimated for 5,057 patients with a mean age of 66 years and a mean IPSS score at inclusion of 11.5. In 30% of patients watchful waiting was the therapy of choice for the full follow-up period, 57% were prescribed alpha-lockers, 11% finasteride and 10% phytotherapy at any moment during the follow-up (including switches and combination of treatment). Surgery rate was 4.9%. Mean one-year treatment costs were 858 per patient, three quarters of which concerned medication costs. Multivariate regression analysis showed that medication choice, complications and undergoing surgery were associated with higher costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment costs for patients with LUTS suggestive of BPH were moderate and largely consisted of medication costs. Daily practice and associated costs varied considerably across the six countries.
van Exel
N J A
NJ
Institute for Medical Technology Assessment (iMTA), Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. n.vanExel@ErasmusMC.nl
Koopmanschap
M A
MA
McDonnell
J
J
Chapple
C R
CR
Berges
R
R
Rutten
F F H
FF
D000368:Aged; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*