BPH: epidemiology and comorbidities.

Recently published data suggest that clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), which is hallmarked by the occurrence of moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), occurs in about one quarter of men in their 50s, one third of men in their 60s, and about half of all men 80 years or older. Although effective treatments for LUTS/BPH are available, this condition often occurs in the context of common, age-related comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction. Alpha1-selective adrenergic receptor (a1-AR) antagonists (eg, alfuzosin, doxazosin, tamsulosin, terazosin) remain the cornerstone of therapy for LUTS/BPH. In addition, 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors (ie, dutasteride, finasteride) have been associated with improvements in LUTS/BPH in men with larger prostates, especially when used in combination with a1-AR antagonists. Although all these drugs have been shown to be beneficial for the treatment of BPH, there are differences in side-effect profiles. When selecting an appropriate course of therapy, these side effects and any impact they may have on existing comorbid conditions must be considered.