Nationwide incidence and treatment pattern of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Korea

To investigate the incidence of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Korea and treatment patterns for 3 years after the diagnosis in a nationwide database.

We created a cohort of patients diagnosed of BPH between 2007 and 2011 from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment database, a nationwide database of reimbursement. The diagnosis of BPH was defined as having the diagnosis of BPH (N40.0 in International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision) as a primary or secondary diagnosis ≥2 times in 2008. The incidence of BPH in 2008 was calculated. Treatment patterns were determined in 3 months interval and traced for 3 years. The incidence and timing of surgery were also determined. For patients taking medications preoperatively, medication-free rate was calculated.

The incidence of BPH was 2,105 per 100,000 men (mean age, 59.7±11.4 years), and increased with age. Surgery was performed for 7,955 patients (2.1%), half of the surgery being performed within the first 6 months. Transurethral resection of the prostate was the most commonly performed surgery. The proportion of treatment increased with age until the 7th decade of life. The patients taking medication for >1 year after the initial diagnosis was 21.4%. On average, 82% of patients became medication-free at postoperative 1 year. For patients taking preoperative anticholinergics, 1 year medication-free rate was 73.3%.

The incidence of BPH increased with age. Surgery was performed in 2.1% of patients. More than 4/5 patients discontinued medication after surgery, while patients taking preoperative anticholinergics were less likely to.

Investigative and clinical urology. 2016 Nov 01 [Epub]

Young Ju Lee, Jeong Woo Lee, Juhyun Park, Seong Il Seo, Jae Il Chung, Tag Keun Yoo, Hwancheol Son

Department of Urology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea., Department of Urology, Dongguk University Ilsan Medical Center, Goyang, Korea., Department of Urology, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea., Department of Urology, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea., Department of Urology, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea., Department of Urology, Eulji General Hospital, Seoul, Korea.