Sexuality and the management of BPH with alfuzosin (SAMBA) trial

Abstract

The sexuality and the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with alfuzosin (SAMBA) trial evaluated the effect of alfuzosin on sexual function in men treated for BPH using two sexual function scales: male sexual health questionnaire (MSHQ) and international index of erectile function (IIEF-15). A total of 148 patients with BPH were treated with alfuzosin for 24 weeks. The patients were followed at baseline, 4, 12 and 24 weeks after medication with alfuzosin. MSHQ was collected at every visit, whereas Q(max), IPSS and IIEF-15 were checked at baseline and end point. At the end point, Q(max) (+4.7 ml s(-1), P<0.01) and IPSS (-5.3, P<0.01) had improved significantly. Alfuzosin also significantly improved the total MSHQ (19.2%, 79.1-94.3, P<0.01) and the MSHQ ejaculatory scores (26.0%, 22.3-28.1, P=<0.01) versus baseline. Alfuzosin for the treatment of patients with BPH is effective in improving sexual function, as well as lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) and quality of life, and is well tolerated.

Impact of alfuzosin on sexual function in Taiwanese men with benign prostatic hyperplasia

“…A major limitation of the current study was the high incompletion rate of MSHQ questionnaire (44%) at week 24, which might have contributed to the lack of a significant difference observed in the primary endpoint. Nevertheless, overall our results are in line with those of the similarly designed SAMBA trial, in which 83% of patients were evaluable in the final analysis [15].…”

“…The results of the current study are in line with those of the similarly designed 24‐week SAMBA trial, conducted in 148 Korean patients aged ≥50 years with BPH [15]. Patients enrolled in these two studies had similar baseline characteristics: mean age (59.4 vs. 57.8 years in the Korean SAMBA trial), total IPSS (17.3 vs. 17.4, respectively), and bother score (3.8 vs. 3.9, respectively) [15]. In both studies, an improvement in urinary symptoms with alfuzosin 10 mg once daily was paralleled by significant improvements in ejaculatory function.…”

“…Furthermore, these improvements, as measured by the MSHQ, were correlated with IIEF‐5. While the onset of action of alfuzosin was not evaluated in Korean patients [15], the current study demonstrated significant improvements in IPSS total scores following 1 week of treatment.…”

“…The improvement in erectile function remained significant when the cut‐off score of IIEF‐5 ≤ 11 (moderate to severe ED) and ≤16 (mild to severe ED) was used. The benefits of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily on sexual function have also been confirmed in a number of other studies [12,15,31,32]. The improvement in sexual function was particularly evident in men with severe LUTS or a severe bother score at baseline [12].…”

“…The Male Sexual Health Questionnaire (MSHQ) is a newly developed questionnaire which allows a detailed and accurate evaluation of male sexual function [8]. It has recently been utilized to assess sexual dysfunction in Korean and Thai patients enrolled in the Sexuality and the Management of BPH with Alfuzosin (SAMBA) trial [15,16]. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first study to assess the effect of alfuzosin 10 mg once daily on sexual function in Taiwanese patients, utilizing the MSHQ and International Index of Erectile Function—five‐item (IIEF‐5), and to confirm its efficacy and safety profile.…”