Peter Weibl1+2, Peter Laurinc3, Roman Tomaškin4, Ján Breza5, Danica Fačkovcová6, Miroslav Helbich7 a Peter Bujdák8
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate subjective perceptions and expectations of treatment in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with the risk of progression treated in common out-patients practice in Slovakia. Materials and methods: Four hundred and twenty six patients from 45 outpatient’s centres were included in the study during the 2009 and 2010 period. 28.6 % pts were naive, 64.8 % used mono-therapy (58.7 % alpha-blocker, 6.1 % 5alpha-reductase inhibitor) and 8.5 % combined treatment (alpha-blocker/5alpha-reductase inhibitor/dutasteride) prior to the study. Each patient reached the 12 months of follow up. Inclusion criteria were: age > 50 years, IPSS > 8, prostate volume ≥ 30 cm3 (transabdominal ultrasound) and PSA ≥ 1,5 ≤ 10 ng/ml. The mean patients’ age was 68.4 years and prostate volume 61.2 cm3. Results: The most bothersome symptoms were the weak urine stream (60.8 %) and nocturia (59.2 %). Patients´ expectations from the treatment were stabilization of the disease (at the end of the study there was a significant decrease of patients expecting rapid resolution of symptoms and the risk of undergoing surgery in favour of expecting stable disease). 88.9 % pts were satisfied with the treatment at the end of the study; only 0.9 % claimed that the treatment was ineffective. There was a significant increase in patients who claimed to be well informed about the disease, prognosis and the risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia progression. Conclusions: This survey points out on the patients prevalence of bothersome symptoms and expectations of the treatment, what reflects the current outpatient practice in Slovakia. The knowledge of patients that they may reduce the risk of progression and risk of surgery has been proved as the priority of medical treatment.
Keywords: benign prostatic hyperplasia, lower urinary tract symptoms, progression, patient