National trends in surgical therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia in Australia.

BACKGROUND: To determine national trends in the utilization of surgical procedures for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in Australia over the last 20 years.

METHODS: The Medicare Australia and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare databases were used to determine the annual number of surgical procedures and hospital admissions for BPH.

RESULTS: From 1998 to 2017, surgical procedures for BPH have increased by 79% which is largely commensurate with population growth. From 1998 to 2008, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) was the predominant surgical therapy, accounting for 96% of all surgical treatments. From 2008 to 2017, TURP use reduced to 70% and in the last 5 years has been replaced with photoselective vaporization (16%), UroLift (8%) and holmium laser prostatectomy (6%). UroLift is used significantly more in younger men (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: There has been a substantial increase in surgical treatments for BPH over the last 20 years. In the last 5 years, TURP use has declined due to an increase in laser prostatectomy and UroLift procedures.