Researchers analyzed finasteride to reduce the risk of incidence of symptomatic BPH. The Prostate Cancer Prevention trial involved 18,880 men over 55 years of age.
In summary, men on finasteride were 40 percent less likely to develop BPH than with the placebo. Obesity attenuates the BPH prevention benefits from finasteride. The number needed to treat (NNT) is 31 (men 65 years and older) to prevent one BPH event. “The number needed to treat is comparable, if not superior, to the number needed to treat aspirin statins for prevention of CVD,” said Parsons. “These results should be considered in formulating recommendations for utilizing finasteride to prevent prostate disease.”
Presented by J. Kellogg Parsons, MD, et al. at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting - May 14 - 19, 2011 - Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC USA
Reported by Karen Roberts, Medical Writer, UroToday.com
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