Furosemide use and hospitalization for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
OBJECTIVE
Recent studies have shown that furosemide may have anti-inflammatory properties. We explored whether exposure to furosemide would reduce the risk of being hospitalized with prostatism, a marker of benign prostatic hyperplasia.


METHODS
Using record linkage and the computerized health insurance databases of the province of Québec, Canada, we identified a cohort of men 65 years of age and older within which we conducted a case-control study. Cases were individuals hospitalized with prostatism (ICD-9 code 600) between January 1991 and June 1993, with the index date taken as the date of hospitalisation. Controls were those not having experienced the event during the study period, with an index date selected randomly during their follow-up. Cases and controls were required to have at least 2 (1/2) years of health coverage prior to index date in order to identify risk factors for benign prostatic hyperplasia and establish baseline medical history. We assessed the subjects' exposure to furosemide and various other diuretics in the period 180 to 900 days preceding the index date. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between the use of furosemide and hospitalization for prostatism, adjusting for potential confounders.


RESULTS
The cohort included 8,814 subjects, of which 231 were cases and 8,583 controls. The rate of hospitalization for prostatism was lower for users of furosemide compared to non-users (adjusted rate ratio 0.49; 95% CI: 0.25-0.95). There was no association with the use of thiazide or potassium sparing diuretics (adjusted rate ratio 0.95; 95% CI: 0.65-1.37). Results suggestive of a protective effect associated with corticosteroid use were observed (adjusted rate ratio 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.93).


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the hypothesis that furosemide can reduce the risk of hospitalization for prostatism, a marker of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Royal Victoria Hospital and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada. samy.suissa@clinepi.mcgill.ca
J A C
JA
Delaney
L E
LE
Lévesque
M
M
Etminan
S
S
Suissa
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005665:Furosemide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D005665:Furosemide