Oral medication of statins retards the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia and lower urinary tract symptoms

Objective:To determine whether oral statins can delay the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) and lower urinary tract symptoms(LUTS). Methods:We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 50- 69-year-old males who came for physical examination in our hospital between January 2003 and December 2008. We designed the inclusion criteria,followed them up for 5 years,and investigated the relationship of oral statins with the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS. Results:Totally,653 men met the inclusion criteria and were included in this study,of whom 283 were treated with oral statins( group 1) while the other370 with none(group 2). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in age and baseline IPSS,Qmax,and prostate volume(PV)(P 0. 05). During the follow-up,24 cases in group 1 and 35 cases in group 2 were excluded for obvious dys-uria. A gradual increase was observed in IPSS in both groups 1 and 2 year by year from the baseline to the 5th year of follow-up,but significantly lower in the former group(4. 27 ± 1. 16,4. 63 ± 1. 05,5. 27 ± 0. 96,6. 41 ± 1. 04,7. 21 ± 1. 21,and 7. 93 ± 1. 50)than in the latter(4. 24 ± 1. 35,5. 26 ± 1. 23,6. 84 ± 1. 20,8. 75 ± 1. 84,10. 82 ± 3. 01,and 12. 98 ± 4. 21)(P 0. 01); a gradual decrease was seen in Qmax,though markedly higher in group 1([26. 56 ± 2. 09],[24. 06 ± 1. 94],[21. 33 ± 1. 66],[19. 24 ±1. 54],[17. 44 ± 1. 53],and [16. 27 ± 1. 37] ml /s) than in group 2([26. 74 ± 2. 40],[23. 62 ± 2. 01],[20. 63 ± 1. 69],[17.72 ±1.48],[14.82 ±1.11],and[11.86 ±1.24]ml/s)(P 0.01); and a gradual increase was found in PV,but remarkably smaller in the former group([19. 82 ± 4. 94],[22. 60 ± 4. 99],[25. 80 ± 5. 20],[27. 92 ± 5. 05],[29. 11 ± 5. 24],and[29.97 ±5.26]ml) than in the latter([20.21 ±4.78],[24.30 ±4.98],[28.50 ±5.14],[32.84 ±4.77],[36.99 ±4.78],and [40. 90 ± 4. 78]ml)(P 0. 01). Longer medication of statins was associated with better efficacy. Conclusion:Oral statins can significantly delay the clinical progression of BPH and LUTS.