ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the efficacy of the single versus combination drug therapies for benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) combined with overactive bladder(OAB).Methods A total of 471 outpatients with BPH and OAB meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria were enrolled in this prospective cohort study from March 2012 to October 2015.Patients were divided into two groups:(1) the single alpha-blocker treatment group (prostate volume ＜ 30 ml),and (2) the 5 alpha reductase inhibitors(5-ARIs) plus alpha-blocker combination treatment group(prostate volume ≥ 30 ml).The 318 patients were treated with alpha blockers for 4 weeks,and then received a continuing alpha-blocker treatment for 8 weeks if IPSS score changes were less than 30％ (i.e.single alpha-blocker treatment group).And 153 patients were treated with 5-ARIs for 12 weeks,then received 5-ARIs plus alpha-blocker combination treatment for another 4 weeks(a total of 16 weeks)if IPSS score changes were less than 30 ％ (i.e.combination treatment group).The improvements of post-voiding residual(PVR),PV,maximum urinary flow rate(Qmax),international prostate symptom score(IPSS),overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS),quality of life (QOL),urine storage period symptom score (USPSS) and voiding symptom score(VSS)were compared between the two groups.Results The values of IPSS,OABSS,QOL,USPSS and VSS index in the two groups were improved after treatment as compared with pre-treatment(all P≤0.05).Patients in combination treatment group had little improvement in PVR and Qmax after treatment.The OAB symptom remission rates of BPH patients with OAB in single alpha-blocker treatment group were 70.5％ (206/292)and 78.6％ (165/210)after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment respectively.The OAB symptoms remission rates of BPH patients with OAB in combination treatment group were 54.5 ％ (64/122) and 67.1％ (53/79) after 12 and 16 weeks of treatment respectively.Conclusions Both single alpha-blocker treatment and alpha-blocker plus 5ARIs combination treatment,which identification was based on prostate volume,have good effects on BPH patients with OAB.The single alpha-blocker treatment can improve PVR and Qmax,and the alpha-blockers plus 5ARIs combination treatment can improve the prostate volume in BPH patients with OAB.