title: Superselective α-adrenergic blockers versus transurethral resection of the prostate: a prospective comparison of health-related quality of life outcome after treating patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We prospectively evaluated the impact of transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) versus superselective α-adrenergic blocker treatment on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men with clinically diagnosed benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 219 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) caused by BPH were recruited in this study. Treatment modalities consisted of standard TURP (n = 104) and tamsulosin medical treatment (n = 115). HRQOL was assessed by SF-36-Item Health Survey 1.0. LUTS were estimated by The International Prostate Symptom Score. Patients' outcome 4 weeks after treatment was compared to pre-treatment status and to that of the other group. Statistically significant changes in each HRQOL scale from baseline to follow-up period were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups except for the duration of disease before treatment that was longer in TURP group. Both treatments resulted in statistically significant improvements from pre-treatment in all scales of QOL after 4 weeks, with no significant differences observed between the two groups. In medical treatment group, there was a significant association between higher educational level and better QOL in all 8 scales. Our outcomes revealed a significant decrease in the IPSS in both groups but this improvement was more evident in TURP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All scales concerning HRQOL were favorably improved 4 weeks after both surgical and medical treatment, and no significant differences were observed between these two treatment modalities for patients with symptomatic BPH. This information may aid patients when deciding which treatment option to take.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Negin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hadi
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminsharifi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tourchi
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000077409:Tamsulosin; D020728:Transurethral Resection of Prostate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000077409:Tamsulosin