Effect of dutasteride on the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, and patient quality of life and discomfort, in clinical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the improvements in symptoms, quality of life (QoL), discomfort and satisfaction in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treated with dutasteride in clinical practice.


METHODS
In a prospective, multicentre open-label study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety in clinical practice of dutasteride, 0.5 mg/day for 24 weeks, in patients with symptomatic BPH. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving at least a 3-point decrease from baseline in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) after 24 weeks of treatment. The secondary endpoints included changes from baseline in measures of QoL (IPSS item 8 and BPH Impact Index score, BII), and patient discomfort and satisfaction (visual analogue scales, VAS) at 12 and 24 weeks.


RESULTS
Of the 366 patients assessed, 72.5% achieved at least a 3-point reduction in IPSS at 24 weeks; the IPSS decreased from 15.3 at baseline to 10.2 at 12 weeks, and to 9.1 at 24 weeks. There were significant (P < 0.001) decreases in all the individual IPSS items at 12 and 24 weeks, with more marked improvements in voiding symptoms than storage symptoms. There were also significant (P < 0.001) improvements in the BII and VAS scores for patient discomfort and satisfaction at both times.


CONCLUSIONS
Dutasteride treatment for 24 weeks significantly improved BPH symptoms, QoL and patient discomfort and satisfaction, and was well tolerated in clinical practice.
Desgrandchamps
François
F
Department of Urology, Saint Louis Hospital, Paris, France. francois.desgrandchamps@sls.ap-hop-paris.fr
Droupy
Stephane
S
Irani
Jacques
J
Saussine
Christian
C
Comenducci
Andrea
A
D001378:Azasteroids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068538:Dutasteride; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006177:Gynecomastia / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced
D001378:Azasteroids; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D000068538:Dutasteride