Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Spring 5-27-1988

Publication Title

Journal of the American Medical Association

Department

Geisel School of Medicine

Abstract

The rate of resection for benign prostatic hypertrophy shows considerable variability among small geographic areas. To help inform the decision to recommend prostatectomy to men with prostatism without signs of chronic retention, we performed a decision analysis to compare the expected outcomes with immediate transurethral resection and watchful waiting. Data used in the model originated from the medical literature, Medicare claims data, and patient interview studies. In our base-case for 70-year-old men, immediate surgery resulted in the loss of 1.01 months of life expectancy, but when adjustments were made for quality of life, immediate surgery was favored with a net utility benefit of 2.94 quality-adjusted life-months. However, the analysis was particularly sensitive to the degree of disutility attributed to the index symptoms of prostatism. We conclude that patient preferences should be the dominant factor in the decision whether to recommend prostatectomy.

Original Citation

Barry MJ, Mulley AG, Fowler FJ, Wennberg JE. Watchful Waiting vs. Immediate Transurethral Prostatectomy for Symptomatic Prostatism. J Amer Med Assoc 1988;259(20):3010-3017.

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