title: Twelve-month medication persistence in men with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess patients' baseline characteristics and provider factors influencing the continuation of medication for 12 months in patients who were newly diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in patients with newly diagnosed lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/BPH (age ≥ 40) who received either one or a combination of the two pharmacological classes of drugs (alpha-blockers or 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors) from January 2008 to January 2010. Patient demographics and clinical data were assessed from the electronic patient records and telephone surveys. Persistence was defined as continuation of all BPH medications prescribed at the start of the first treatment. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between 12-month persistence and patient or provider factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 789 newly diagnosed LUTS/BPH patients, 670 (84.9%) were included in the study. Twelve-month persistence for LUTS/BPH medication was 36.6%. Independent predictors of 12-month medication persistence included larger prostate volume, higher prostate specific antigen, having an adequate income and a good patient-doctor relationship. Important reasons for discontinuation were resolved symptoms (31.1%), no improvement in symptoms (23.7%) and adverse events (20.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About two-thirds of newly diagnosed LUTS/BPH patients discontinued medications within 1 year of starting treatment. We found several potential patient and provider factors associated with persistence, which could be exploited to increase continuation of treatment in future clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D004338:Drug Combinations