title: Demographic and comorbidity profile of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia in a real-life clinical setting: Are 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor consumers different?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to describe, in a daily clinical practice setting, the demographic and comorbidity profile of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH-LUTS), to compare the characteristics of patients receiving 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) with those not receiving them and to investigate predictors of 5-ARI prescription.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective observational study using data retrieved from a general practitioners database. Male patients with diagnosis of BPH-LUTS were included. The following demographic and clinical data were available and extracted: age, comorbidities, BPH-LUTS medical therapy, drugs for comorbidities. A subgroup analysis was performed according to the use of 5-ARIs. Factors associated with 5-ARI prescription were assessed with uni- and multivariate analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 7,103 patients were identified. Most patients (71.7%) were aged ≥65 years. Hypertension was present in 64.9% of patients; it was the most prevalent comorbidity followed by diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, coronary artery disease and other dyslipidemias. Overall, 38.22% of patients were treated with 5-ARIs. Mean age of patients taking 5-ARIs was significantly higher. The prevalence of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive drugs were significantly higher among patients receiving 5-ARIs. Older age was an independent predictor of 5-ARI prescription.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a daily clinical practice setting, patients with BPH-LUTS receiving 5-ARIs are significantly older and have significantly higher prevalence of hypertension if compared with patients with BPH-LUTS not receiving 5-ARIs. Older age is an independent predictor of 5-ARI prescription.
authors.affiliation: Urologic Clinic, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arcaniolo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creta
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Piccinocchi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arpino
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laringe
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piccinocchi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Verze
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mangiapia
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Imperatore
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mirone
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents