Responder and health-related quality of life analyses in men with lower urinary tract symptoms treated with a fixed-dose combination of solifenacin and tamsulosin oral- controlled absorption system: results from the NEPTUNE study

Objective To evaluate the effect of a fixed-dose combination (FDC) of solifenacin and an oral-controlled absorption system (OCAS™) formulation of tamsulosin (TOCAS) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Patients and methods Men with moderate-to-severe storage symptoms and voiding symptoms were treated for 12 weeks with a FDC of solifenacin 6 or 9 mg plus TOCAS (0.4 mg), TOCAS monotherapy (0.4 mg) or placebo in a randomised, double-blind study (NEPTUNE). The co-primary endpoints were Total Urgency Frequency Score (TUFS) and total International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). HRQoL was assessed by several secondary endpoints: IPSS QoL index, overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q), and Patient Global Impression (PGI) scale. The correlation between symptom improvement (TUFS) and HRQoL was assessed by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Single and double responder analyses, using subjective and objective measures, were also performed. Results In the responder analyses, men treated with a FDC of solifenacin 6 mg plus TOCAS consistently had significantly improved outcomes compared with placebo (8/8 responder analyses performed) and TOCAS (6/8 responder analyses performed). There was a significant correlation (P < 0.001) between the reduction in TUFS and the improvement in HRQoL defined by IPSS QoL score, OAB-q symptom bother score, PGI overall bladder symptoms and PGI general health. Conclusions In men with LUTS/BPH who have moderate-to-severe storage symptoms and voiding symptoms, the reduction in symptoms with a once-daily FDC of solifenacin and TOCAS was associated with consistent patient-relevant improvements in HRQoL compared with placebo and TOCAS monotherapy.