Prescription Trends of Initial Pharmacotherapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Among Treatment-Naïve Patients in South Korea: A Retrospective Analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological condition in aging men that causes lower urinary tract symptoms. Pharmacotherapy is central to BPH management; however, considering updated guidelines, recent prescription trends remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to assess initial pharmacotherapy trends in patients newly diagnosed with BPH.
METHODS: This cross-sectional analysis used 2015-2020 data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service to examine the trends and influencing factors of BPH drug utilization among South Korean patients aged ≥ 40 years with no prior history of BPH. Subgroup analyses were performed by categorizing patients into five age groups (40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years) to evaluate age-specific prescription patterns.
RESULTS: Of the 1,445,144 patients newly diagnosed with BPH, 1,336,695 (92.4%) initiated treatment within 60 days of diagnosis. Among those treated, 54.9% received α-blocker (AB) monotherapy and 17.9% received 5α-reductase inhibitor (5-ARI)/AB combinations. Use of 5-ARI/AB combinations increased with age, from 8.0% in patients in their 40s to 25.4% in those aged ≥ 80 years. Tamsulosin (a selective AB), dutasteride (a 5-ARI), and mirabegron (a β3-agonist) were the most frequently prescribed agents.
CONCLUSION: Recent American Urological Association (AUA) guidelines recommend combination therapy as an effective strategy for reducing the risk of BPH-related complications. Although the…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 1,445,144 participants or records.
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