Int Neurourol J.  2011 Dec;15(4):216-221.

Analysis of Prescriptions of Alpha-Blockers and Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors from the Urology Department and Other Departments

• Kang DH
• Lee JY
• Chung JH
• Cho HJ
• Cho JM
• Moon HS
• Kim YT
• Yoo TK
• Choi HY
• Park HY
• Lee SW

Abstract

PURPOSE
We analyzed the prescriptions of alpha-blockers and phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) in the urology department as well as in other departments of the general hospital.
METHODS
We investigated the frequency of prescription of alpha-blockers and PDE5Is from 3 general hospitals from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2009. For alpha-blockers, data were collected from patients to whom alpha-blockers were prescribed from among patients recorded as having benign prostatic hyperplasia according to the 5th Korean Standard Classification of Diseases. For PDE5Is, data were collected from patients to whom PDE5Is were prescribed by the urology department and by other departments. Alpha-blockers were classified into tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin, and terazosin, whereas PDE5Is were classified into sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, udenafil, and mirodenafil.
RESULTS
Alpha-blockers were prescribed to 11,436 patients in total over 3 years, and the total frequency of prescriptions was 68,565. Among other departments, the nephrology department had the highest frequency of prescription of 3,225 (4.7%), followed by the cardiology (3,101, 4.5%), neurology (2,576, 3.8%), endocrinology (2,400, 3.5%), pulmonology (1,102, 1.6%), and family medicine (915, 1.3%) departments in order. PDE5Is were prescribed to 2,854 patients in total over 3 years, and the total frequency of prescriptions was 10,558. The prescription frequency from the urology department was 4,900 (46.4%). Among other departments, the endocrinology department showed the highest prescription frequency of 3,488 (33.0%), followed by the neurology (542, 5.1%), cardiology (467, 4.4%), and family medicine (407, 3.9%) departments in order.
CONCLUSIONS
A high percentage of prescriptions of alpha-blockers and PDE5Is were from other departments. For more specialized medical care by urologists is required in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms and erectile dysfunction.

Keyword

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists; Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; Prescriptions

MeSH Terms

Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
Carbolines
Cardiology
Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5
Doxazosin
Endocrinology
Erectile Dysfunction
Hospitals, General
Humans
Imidazoles
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Male
Nephrology
Neurology
Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
Piperazines
Prazosin
Prescriptions
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Pulmonary Medicine
Purines
Pyrimidines
Quinazolines
Sildenafil Citrate
Sulfonamides
Sulfones
Tadalafil
Triazines
Urology
Vardenafil Dihydrochloride
Adrenergic alpha-1 Receptor Antagonists
Carbolines
Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5
Doxazosin
Imidazoles
Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
Piperazines
Prazosin
Purines
Pyrimidines
Quinazolines
Sulfonamides
Sulfones
Triazines