Economic aspects of treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia

A review of the literature dedicated to the economic aspects of drug and surgical treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is presented in the article. Currently, symptomatic therapy, which usually leads to an increase in the financial costs associated with the complications and surgical treatment, is most commonly used. The pathogenetic treatment of BPH (5-alpha reductase inhibitors), including combination therapy, requires an increase in costs, but it is also considered the most cost-effective approach. Despite the continuous growing of therapeutic armamentarium, the surgical treatment is still relevant and holds an important place. A lot of studies have shown that open procedures are inferior to endoscopic and minimally invasive interventions by both clinical and cost-effective results. At the same time, transurethral interventions on the prostate does not exclude economic losses due to the necessity of expensive laser technologies and the development of complications in the early postoperative period. Thus, currently, the best treatment option should be chosen not only on individual basis, but also depending on economic aspects based on a balanced medical and economic analysis of each treatment method.