Development of a quality of life scale specific for patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

IPSS "bother question" score predicts health-related quality of life better than total IPSS score

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the role of bothersomeness of urinary symptoms on the general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. We hypothesised that a higher International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) would be associated with a higher score on the IPSS bother question (IPSS-BQ), and a higher IPSS-BQ score would be the dominant factor associated with poorer general HRQoL.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control, cross-sectional study design was used. Patients were selected according to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria and stratified by IPSS severity group (controls: IPSS < 8; moderately symptomatic: IPSS = 8-18; and severely symptomatic: IPSS > 18). The IPSS-BQ was used to analyse bothersomeness of urinary symptoms. A standardised, multidimensional measure of HRQoL (RAND-36) was used. Data were collected on prostate size, uroflowmetry parameters, prostate specific antigen and comorbidities that were quantified using the Charlson Index and the American Association of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) score. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess the impact of bothersomeness of urinary symptoms on physical and mental HRQoL. Cohen's d was used to determine the effect size.

RESULTS

We included 83 patients in the statistical analysis. Linear regression analyses showed that the IPSS was not an independent predictor of HRQoL. Only the highest IPSS-BQ score was associated with both worse physical (P = 0.021) and mental (P = 0.011) HRQoL in the final model. The effect sizes were small to moderate.

CONCLUSION

The IPSS-BQ score is an important predictor of HRQoL. The IPSS-BQ score as a proxy should be regarded as a standard outcome measure and reported in all LUTS-related research.

The effective tool for self-assessment of adherence to treatment in patients with benign prostatic obstruction and overactive bladder symptoms

PURPOSE

Study of validity of the Medication Adherence Self-Report Inventory (MASRI) for use in clinical practice to treat patients with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) accompanied with overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms.

METHODS

During 12 weeks of the randomized study, 452 patients with BPO and OAB symptoms (mean age of 61.3 (12.7)) were studied for adherence to the treatment with Tamsulosin, Solifenacin and Trospium using the MASRI. External monitoring instruments included the Brief Medication Questionnaire (BMQ) and the visual remaining pill count. The state of the prostate gland and the lower urinary tract was monitored using questionnaires I-PSS, OAB Awareness Tool, uroflowmetry and voiding diaries.

RESULT

Correlation between the percentage of men non-adherent to treatment (MASRI) and the percentage of patients having a belief barrier on the screen of the BMQ was r = 0.89, p ≤0.05, r = 0.92, p ≤0.01, r = 0.85, p ≤0.05, a number of missed doses on the Regimen Screen of the BMQ was r = 0.79; p ≤0.05; r = 0.81; p ≤0.05; r = 0.75, p ≤0.05, a number of non-adherent patients according to the BMQ was r = 0.83 (p ≤0.05), r = 0.88 (p ≤0.05), r = 0.79, p ≤0.05, the results of the pill count were r = 0.65-0.76; p ≤0.05-0.01. These data confirm high validity of the MASRI.

CONCLUSION

The MASRI is a valid tool for rapid assessment of adherence to treatment of patients with BPO and OAB receiving Tamsulosin and antimuscarinic drugs and may be recommended for use in clinical practice.

Health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, and sexual function in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia after prostatic surgery

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) may receive prostatic surgery due to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). This study aimed to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), psychological well-being, and sexual function of patients with BPH after prostatic surgery and identify the predictors of HRQoL among this group of patients.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational study. A convenience sample of 94 participants was recruited from a urology center in a tertiary public hospital in Singapore. The 12-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12v2), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) were used to measure the study variables.

RESULTS

Compared to the general population norms and the findings of similar studies conducted in western countries, this group of patients reported poorer physical health but better mental health as assessed by SF-12v2. Despite the prostatic surgery, over a quarter of the patients experienced moderate LUTS, and 13.8% experienced severe erectile dysfunction. Multiple linear regression analysis identified that LUTS (B=-0.51, p=0.02) and maximum flow rate (B=-0.23, p=0.02) predicted poor physical health, accounting for 45.9% of variance, while HADS-Anxiety (B=-1.07, p<0.01) and LUTS (B=-0.32, p=0.03) predicted poor mental health, accounting for 57.2% of variance.

CONCLUSION

The physical health of BPH patients with prostatic surgery was poor, with many suffering moderate LUTS and sexual dysfunction. Special attention should be given to those patients with severe LUTS who have a low maximum flow rate or have anxiety symptoms.

Effectiveness of Solifenacin and Trospium for Managing of Severe Symptoms of Overactive Bladder in Patients With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

This research is aimed to study the possibility of management of severe symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) with solifenacin and trospium in patients who receive treatment with tamsulosin due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The 338 men more than 50 years old (average age 58.4 years) diagnosed with BPH and severe symptoms of OAB were enrolled in the study. Over three episodes of urinary incontinence per day (registration according to bladder diaries), International Prostate Symptom Score over 19, OAB-V8 questionnaire score over 32, and urodynamic disorders diagnosed using cystometry and uroflowmetry were taken as a criterion of severe symptoms of OAB. Patients of the main group during 2 months received treatment with daily combination of solifenacin 5 mg and trospium 5 mg simultaneously with tamsulosin 0.4 mg. Patients of the control group were treated only with tamsulosin. First endpoint is a quantitative assessment of patients with BPH having severe symptoms of OAB. Second endpoint is a state of the patients’ lower urinary tract after the treatment. In the main group, most of urodynamic indices normalized significantly. Number of episodes of incontinence reduced from middle level 3.4 (0.8) per day to 0.9 (0.7) per day. In the control group changes of urodynamic indices were not significant. Quantity of side effects did not exceed the level which is common for antimuscarinic monotherapy. Therefore, percentage of patients with severe symptoms of OAB is not less than 44% of all cases of prostatic hyperplasia accompanied by OAB symptoms. Combination of trospium and solifenacin in standard doses is an efficient and safe method of management of severe symptoms of OAB in the course of the treatment of with tamsulosin in patients more than 50 years of age.