title: Feasibility of an Alternative Option for the Management of Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We determine if men with self-reported lower urinary tract symptoms can make a correct decision to use an over-the-counter alpha-1 blocker. Furthermore, we assess the frequency of medically significant conditions presenting with urinary symptoms in these consumers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects reviewed a mock-up of an over-the-counter product for male lower urinary tract symptoms (part 1). Subjects who selected the product underwent urine dipstick testing and male subjects completed the AUA Symptom Index (part 2). Urological assessment was conducted in women; in men younger than 45 years; men 45 years old or older who reported "Do Not Use" symptoms listed on the over-the-counter label; who had glucose, leukocytes and/or blood in their urine; or had an AUA-SI score of 20 or greater.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1,967 subjects enrolled 1,953 completed part 1 (men/women 1,697/256), 1,311 (1,294/17) entered part 2 and 1,289 (1,274/15) were evaluated. Frequently reported baseline medical conditions were hypertension (45.8%/46.7%) and dyslipidemia (36.4%/60.0%). Lower urinary tract symptoms were present for more than 3 years in 47.6% of men and 40% of women. Mean AUA-SI score was 18.9. Urine dipstick results were positive in 20.9% of men. Overall 729 men and 12 women underwent urological assessment, and 517 (70.9%) men had urologist confirmed lower urinary tract symptoms while 200 (27.4%) did not. Newly diagnosed medically significant conditions causing/contributing to lower urinary tract symptoms were identified in 21 (2.9%) men and 2 (16.7%) women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most men correctly selected the over-the-counter product for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia, while most women correctly deselected to use the product. Since few men had undiagnosed medically significant conditions causing/contributing to urinary symptoms, the risk of harm due to incorrect selection was low.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
authors.forename: Claus G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Roehrborn
authors.affiliation: Weiler Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Bronx, New York.
authors.forename: Franklin C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: South Florida Medical Research, Aventura, Florida.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gittelman
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut.
authors.forename: Jan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wruck
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut. Electronic address: annelies.verbeek@boehringer-ingelheim.com.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Verbeek
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012648:Self Care
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists
keywords: lower urinary tract symptoms; prostatic hyperplasia; self care