Alfuzosin 10 mg once daily for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 3‐year experience in real‐life practice

OBJECTIVES To assess the 3‐year efficacy and safety of the selective α1‐blocker alfuzosin at 10 mg once daily in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in ‘real‐life practice’. The influence of treatment response on the risk of acute urinary retention (AUR) and BPH‐related surgery was also analysed. PATIENTS AND METHODS In all, 689 European men (mean age 67.6 years) were enrolled by general practitioners in a 3‐year open‐label study with alfuzosin at 10 mg once daily. They were asked to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), its eighth question (bother score), and the Danish Prostatic Symptom Score for sexual function (DAN‐PSSsex). Efficacy was analysed at the endpoint in the intent‐to‐treat population. The impact of baseline variables (age, PSA level, IPSS and bother severity) and dynamic variables (IPSS worsening of ≥4 points and bother at the last available assessment under treatment) on the risk of AUR and BPH‐related surgery was evaluated. RESULTS With alfuzosin, IPSS improved by 6.4 points (−33.4%) from baseline (P 6 points in 71.3% and 47.2% of men, respectively. There were also significant (P