Impact of drug use on patient symptom score and quality of life in benign prostatic hyperplasia patients

Abstract

Introduction: To assess the drug use pattern for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients and its impact on patient symptom score and quality of life (QoL) of these patients. Materials and Methods: After getting approval from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Institutional Ethics Committee and after obtaining written informed consent from 103 BPH patients, their demographic data, drugs prescribed to them, and scores of International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Impact Index (BII) were recorded. Patients were reassessed for changes in scores of IPSS, BII, and drug prescription (if any) on the 15th, 30th, and 60th days. Results: 68.93% of patients received drug as a single entity. Patients were classified according to their presenting symptoms as severe, low moderate, and mild with a mean total IPSS score of 16.73% ± 6.6. 37.86% of patients were dissatisfied with QoL and 24.27% of patients had mixed opinion with a mean score of 3.39 ± 1.08. There was a low, medium, moderate, and high total score of BII with a mean BII score of 4.02 ± 2.51. Significant changes were seen in total BII score and frequency of urination on day 15; weak stream, nocturia, total score, and QoL on day 30; and intermittency and urgency on day 60. Incomplete emptying of bladder and straining showed nonsignificant changes. Age and total IPSS score, age and QoL, and age and total BII score showed a negative correlation. Total IPSS score and QoL, total IPSS and BII score, and QoL and total BII score showed a positive correlation. Conclusion: Nonsurgical pharmacological intervention had a positive impact on the IPSS and BII score and health-related QoL in BPH patients.