Long-term effects of doxazosin, finasteride, and combination therapy on quality
of life in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Author(s): Fwu CW, Eggers PW, Kaplan SA, Kirkali Z, Lee JY, Kusek JW.
Affiliation(s): Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Silver Spring, MD. Electronic address:
cfwu@s-3.com.
Publication date & source: 2013, J Urol. ,
PURPOSE: To examine the effects of doxazosin, finasteride and combination therapy
among men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) on quality of life (QoL)
assessed by a general (the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form-36 [MOS-SF-36]) and
two disease-specific instruments (the BPH Impact Index [BII] and the
International Prostate Symptom Score [IPSS]-QoL) over 4 years. MATERIALS AND
METHODS: The Medical Therapy of Prostatic Symptoms (MTOPS) Study was a
multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a
primary outcome of time-to-BPH progression. Change in QoL was a secondary
outcome. A total of 2,872 men enrolled in the MTOPS Study who had three baseline
QoL measures and at least one follow-up measure by any of the QoL instruments
were analyzed. RESULTS: Compared with men assigned to placebo, men assigned to
doxazosin and combination experienced a statistically significant improvement in
the BII at year 4. Men assigned to each of the drug groups also experienced a
significant improvement in the IPSS-QoL compared with those assigned to placebo.
Considering longitudinal changes over 4 years, a significant improvement in BII
and IPSS-QoL scores was observed in men assigned to the drug groups compared with
those assigned to placebo. However, there were no significant differences for the
MOS-SF-36 subscales and summary scores when drug groups were compared with the
placebo group. CONCLUSIONS: QoL of men treated with doxazosin, finasteride, and
the drugs combined generally improved when assessed with the BII and the IPSS-QoL
compared with those treated with placebo. QoL did not show improvement when
measured by the MOS-SF-36.
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