Feasibility of an Alternative Option for the Management of Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Purpose We determine if men with self-reported lower urinary tract symptoms can make a correct decision to use an over-the-counter alpha-1 blocker. Furthermore, we assess the frequency of medically significant conditions presenting with urinary symptoms in these consumers. Materials and Methods Subjects reviewed a mock-up of an over-the-counter product for male lower urinary tract symptoms (part 1). Subjects who selected the product underwent urine dipstick testing and male subjects completed the AUA Symptom Index (part 2). Urological assessment was conducted in women; in men younger than 45 years; men 45 years old or older who reported "Do Not Use" symptoms listed on the over-the-counter label; who had glucose, leukocytes and/or blood in their urine; or had an AUA-SI score of 20 or greater. Results Of the 1,967 subjects enrolled 1,953 completed part 1 (men/women 1,697/256), 1,311 (1,294/17) entered part 2 and 1,289 (1,274/15) were evaluated. Frequently reported baseline medical conditions were hypertension (45.8%/46.7%) and dyslipidemia (36.4%/60.0%). Lower urinary tract symptoms were present for more than 3 years in 47.6% of men and 40% of women. Mean AUA-SI score was 18.9. Urine dipstick results were positive in 20.9% of men. Overall 729 men and 12 women underwent urological assessment, and 517 (70.9%) men had urologist confirmed lower urinary tract symptoms while 200 (27.4%) did not. Newly diagnosed medically significant conditions causing/contributing to lower urinary tract symptoms were identified in 21 (2.9%) men and 2 (16.7%) women. Conclusions Most men correctly selected the over-the-counter product for the management of lower urinary tract symptoms/benign prostatic hyperplasia, while most women correctly deselected to use the product. Since few men had undiagnosed medically significant conditions causing/contributing to urinary symptoms, the risk of harm due to incorrect selection was low.