Lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive of benign prostatic obstruction - Triumph: Health-economical analysis

Given the ageing of western populations, the cost burden associated with th e treatment of LUTS suggestive of BPO will increase substantially over the next few decades. Therefore, from the economic perspective, the primary obj ective of the Triumph project is the assessment of the cost-effectiveness o f treatment options for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) suggestive of b enign prostatic obstruction (BPO), formerly referred to as symptomtic benig n prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in medical practice in initially six Europea n countries. All modalities of LUTS treatment used in these countries will be considered, The effectiveness and costs associated with these treatments will be assessed in each country. Data will be gathered from observed medi cal practice rather than in the setting of a trial, Country-specific aspect s will be studied and the outcome of country-specific policies can be predi cted. Patient quality of life will also be measured using the I-PSS score a s a basis. A number of treatment scenarios will be assessed in terms of bot h their costs and long-term effects, using a computer simulation, These eco nomic analyses will provide greatly imp proved insight into the most cost-e ffective treatments for LUTS suggestive of BPO, Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karge r AG, Basel.