Yanyan Fu1, Simeng Han2, Li Wang1, Wei Gao3, Eric Wu3, Xian Cao1, Jianye Wang4. 1. Medical Affairs Department, Merck Sharp and Dohme (China), Beijing, China. 2. Analysis Group, Inc, Beijing, China. 3. Analysis Group, Inc, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Urology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China. wangjy@bjhmoh.cn.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is commonly treated with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor/alpha blocker combination therapy or with alpha blocker monotherapy. However, in China, the characteristics of BPH patients receiving 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor/alpha blocker combination therapy or alpha blocker monotherapy remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study compared the characteristics of BPH patients receiving either the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride in combination with an alpha blocker or an alpha blocker as monotherapy in clinical practice in China. METHODS: Data were obtained from a large electronic medical record database from four tertiary hospitals in major cities in China (2009-2016). BPH patients aged ≥ 50 years with ≥ 1 alpha blocker fill on/after the first BPH diagnosis were selected. Patients were further classified as receiving combination therapy (≥ 1 overlapping day of supply for finasteride and an alpha blocker) or alpha blocker monotherapy (did not receive any 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor). Patient characteristics, visit type (in- vs. outpatient) at treatment initiation, and comorbidities were evaluated during the 6-month baseline period and compared between the two groups using two sample t tests and chi-square tests/Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 2666 and 2738 patients received combination therapy and monotherapy, respectively. The combination group was older (70.3 vs. 67.3 years, p < 0.0001) and had more patients initiated in an inpatient setting (46.0% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.0001). Compared with the monotherapy group, the combination group had more comorbidities, such as hypertension (48.3% vs. 35.6%, p < 0.0001), cardiovascular disease (65.3% vs. 48.0%, p < 0.0001), and diabetes (21.1% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.0001), and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (0.9 vs. 0.7, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Chinese BPH patients using finasteride/alpha blocker combination therapy were older and had a higher comorbidity burden than those using alpha blocker monotherapy. These findings provide Chinese healthcare decision-makers with a better understanding of the patient characteristics generally associated with BPH combination therapy vs. alpha blocker monotherapy. FUNDING: Merck Sharp and Dohme (China) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.
INTRODUCTION:Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is commonly treated with 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor/alpha blocker combination therapy or with alpha blocker monotherapy. However, in China, the characteristics of BPH patients receiving 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor/alpha blocker combination therapy or alpha blocker monotherapy remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study compared the characteristics of BPH patients receiving either the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride in combination with an alpha blocker or an alpha blocker as monotherapy in clinical practice in China. METHODS: Data were obtained from a large electronic medical record database from four tertiary hospitals in major cities in China (2009-2016). BPH patients aged ≥ 50 years with ≥ 1 alpha blocker fill on/after the first BPH diagnosis were selected. Patients were further classified as receiving combination therapy (≥ 1 overlapping day of supply for finasteride and an alpha blocker) or alpha blocker monotherapy (did not receive any 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor). Patient characteristics, visit type (in- vs. outpatient) at treatment initiation, and comorbidities were evaluated during the 6-month baseline period and compared between the two groups using two sample t tests and chi-square tests/Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: A total of 2666 and 2738 patients received combination therapy and monotherapy, respectively. The combination group was older (70.3 vs. 67.3 years, p < 0.0001) and had more patients initiated in an inpatient setting (46.0% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.0001). Compared with the monotherapy group, the combination group had more comorbidities, such as hypertension (48.3% vs. 35.6%, p < 0.0001), cardiovascular disease (65.3% vs. 48.0%, p < 0.0001), and diabetes (21.1% vs. 15.7%, p < 0.0001), and a higher Charlson comorbidity index (0.9 vs. 0.7, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Chinese BPH patients using finasteride/alpha blocker combination therapy were older and had a higher comorbidity burden than those using alpha blocker monotherapy. These findings provide Chinese healthcare decision-makers with a better understanding of the patient characteristics generally associated with BPH combination therapy vs. alpha blocker monotherapy. FUNDING: Merck Sharp and Dohme (China) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China.