건강보험청구자료 분석을 통한 전립선비대증 치료약물로서의 Alpha Blockers(AB) 및 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors (5ARI) 처방패턴 분석연구

Introduction: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is prevalent among middle-aged and elderly men. This study examines the treatment patterns and duration of BPH pharmacotherapy using Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) data from 2009 to 2019. Methods: The study analyzed data for patients aged 40 and above, diagnosed with BPH between 2011 and 2013, who initiated pharmacotherapy within 30 days of diagnosis. Exclusions were made for those with prior BPH treatment or diagnosis and those with a treatment period of less than 30 days. We assessed characteristics of patients with different pharmacotherapy and their treatment patterns. Results: Among 460,895 patients, initial treatments included alpha-blockers (AB) monotherapy (63.0%), AB and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARI) combination therapy (24.7%), and 5ARI monotherapy (9.5%). Tamsulosin was the most prescribed AB, and finasteride was the most common 5ARI. The average treatment duration was 447.4 days, with 43% of patients resuming treatment after a 90-day gap. Combination therapy patients were older and had higher surgery rates, while 5ARI monotherapy had the shortest treatment duration and lowest adherence. Conclusion: Significant differences in treatment patterns were observed based on patient age and treatment type. The study highlights the need for improved patient education and monitoring to enhance treatment adherence, particularly for drugs requiring long-term therapies like 5ARI. Further research is needed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of different regimens and address adherence barriers. KCI Citation Count: 0