Comparison of tamsulosin efficacy in subgroups of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

We have compared the results of treatment with tamsulosin (0.4 mg once daily) in subgroups of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction, based on two large-scale, open-label, observational studies. Improvements of IPSS or Q(max) were largely unaffected by patient age. Patients with severe symptoms benefited at least as much from treatment as those with mild or moderate symptoms, and the majority of patients with severe symptoms were shifted to the moderate or even mild symptoms group. We conclude that tamsulosin is effective in patients of all age groups, and should be considered as an alternative to surgery even in patients with severe symptoms.