BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA SPECIFIC HEALTH-STATUS MEASURES IN CLINICAL RESEARCH - HOW MUCH CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN-UROLOGICAL-ASSOCIATION SYMPTOM INDEX AND THE BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA IMPACT INDEX IS PERCEPTIBLE TO PATIENTS

Purpose: We assessed the relationship between changes in scores for the American Urological Association (AUA) symptom index and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) impact index with patient global ratings of improvement in a large Veterans Affairs trial comparing different pharmacological therapies for BPH. Materials and Methods: The primary analyses compared absolute score changes from baseline with global ratings of improvement-at 13 weeks for 1,218 men. Results: Subjects who rated themselves as being slightly improved had a mean decrease in AUA symptom index and BPH impact index scores of 3.1 and 0.4 points, respectively. However, the baseline scores strongly influenced this relationship. Conclusions: These data provide guidance for investigators using the AUA symptom index and BPH impact index as outcome measures.