Nearly Half of Women Whose Partners Experience Urinary Symptoms Say
Those Symptoms Affect Their Lives as Well, Most Often in the Form of
Sleep
WAYNE, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2018--
Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE: TFX), a leading global provider of medical
technologies for critical care and surgery, has announced that a common
health problem that affects nearly 40 million men in the United States
often impacts more than just the health of the sufferer, new data
suggests. Two surveys sponsored by NeoTract Interventional Urology were
recently deployed to more than 1,000 men and 1,000 women over the age of
50 in the U.S. with the aim of measuring the impact of a frequently
undiagnosed men’s health issue on couples, as well as to ascertain the
reasons why men may not be seeking treatment. The results demonstrated
that, while men may not be communicating about their symptoms or aware
of their impact, the lives of their partners are often affected by them.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate, is
non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that occurs as men age. The
condition, which affects more than 40% of men over 50, is marked by
bothersome urinary symptoms that can cause loss of productivity,
depression, and decreased quality of life. One of the most common
symptoms, interrupted sleep, has recently been linked to shortened life
span, cancer, heart attacks, and Alzheimer’s, according to research by
leading neuroscientist Matthew Walker.1
When women were asked about their partners’ urinary symptoms, 43 percent
said they were aware that their significant other was experiencing
symptoms of BPH. The most common symptom identified, by far, was getting
up in the night to urinate. Of the women whose partners were
experiencing symptoms, 42 percent said those symptoms affect their lives
in at least one way. The biggest impact occurred at night, with 64
percent saying their partners’ symptoms affected their sleep. Nearly
one-third said symptoms influenced social life and vacations, and 39
percent said their relationship with their significant other was
impacted.
The majority of men surveyed were experiencing BPH symptoms, and also
identified sleep as the main issue:
-
55 percent said they were experiencing at least one symptom of BPH, 46
percent were experiencing multiple symptoms
-
Of those experiencing symptoms, 68 percent said those symptoms affect
their life in some way. The most common complaint was sleep (affecting
56 percent), followed by travel, social life, and work.
-
More than one-third were not aware these symptoms were signs of a
treatable condition, rather than just a result of aging.
The survey also found that while 82 percent of men said they regularly
wake up at least once in the night to urinate, the majority said the
nighttime waking did not bother their significant other (82 percent). In
contrast, the impact on sleep was the top issue for women whose
significant others experienced symptoms, suggesting that men may not be
aware of the effect their symptoms have on those around them.
“When it comes to prostate issues, men are typically reluctant to speak
with a doctor about their symptoms," said Dr. David Sussman2,
a urologist with Delaware Valley Urology in New Jersey. “For those who
have seen a doctor, the BPH treatments most often discussed have long
been associated with sexual dysfunction, making the symptoms sometimes
more appealing to live with than the treatment options. But a new
treatment, called the UroLift System, offers effective symptom relief
with minimal side effects, preserves prostate tissue and does not cause
sexual dysfunction. It’s a rapid, minimally invasive procedure that can
be performed right in the urologist’s office, making it an appealing
option for men who have been hesitant to seek treatment.”
Medication is often the first-line therapy for enlarged prostate, but
relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of medication
treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches,
prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the
classic alternative is surgery that cuts, heats or removes prostate
tissue to open the blocked urethra. Of the men surveyed:
-
86 percent said preserving sexual function was of importance when
considering treatment
-
60 percent said preserving prostate tissue was of importance when
considering treatment
-
74 percent said the risk of incontinence and impotence would likely
factor into their decision when considering treatment
“These survey results, in conjunction with the growing body of evidence
pointing towards the importance of sleep, reinforce the need for
continued education on the true impact of BPH,” said Dave Amerson,
president and general manager of NeoTract Interventional Urology, a
medical device company focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of
urology, and sponsor of the surveys. “It’s a fairly common misperception
that these symptoms are harmless and just an inevitable part of aging,
and as a result, many men and their partners are dealing with the
effects unnecessarily, and potentially putting themselves at risk for
other health conditions.”
BPH is not a pre-cursor to prostate cancer, but is twelve times more
common, especially as men age. Over 40 percent of men in their 50s have
BPH and over 70 percent of men in their 60s have the condition. The
incidence rate climbs to 80 percent for men over the age of 70. If BPH
is left untreated, the condition can worsen over time and cause
permanent bladder damage.
“We hope this new data sparks a dialogue between men and their partners
on the impact of BPH on each other’s lives, and that it encourages more
men to speak with their doctor about symptoms they are experiencing,”
said Ana Fadich, vice president of Men’s Health Network. “BPH only
becomes more and more common as men age, so early intervention can
really make a difference in quality of life and long-term health, both
for men and their loved ones.”
About the UroLift System
The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a novel, minimally invasive technology
for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic
hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a
minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate
obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or
removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal 206-patient
randomized controlled study showed that patients with enlarged prostate
receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable symptomatic and
urinary flow rate improvement without compromising sexual function.
Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life.
Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria,
micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms
were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks
after the procedure. The UroLift System is available in the U.S.,
Europe, Australia and Canada. Learn more at www.UroLift.com.
About the UroLift System
The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive
technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered
during a minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve
prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting,
heating, or removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal
206-patient randomized controlled study showed that patients with
enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable
symptomatic and urinary flow rate improvement without compromising
sexual function. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in
quality of life. More than 45,000 men worldwide have been treated with
the UroLift System. Most common adverse events reported include
hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge
incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and
resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure. The UroLift
System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and
South Korea. Learn more at www.UroLift.com.
About NeoTract | Teleflex Interventional Urology
A wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, the NeoTract
Interventional Urology Business Unit is dedicated to developing
innovative, minimally invasive and clinically effective devices that
address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is
on improving the standard of care for patients with BPH using the
UroLift System, a minimally invasive permanent implant system that
treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function. Learn more at www.NeoTract.com.
About Teleflex Incorporated
Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to
improve the health and quality of people’s lives. We apply purpose
driven innovation – a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical
needs – to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Our portfolio is
diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional
access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine
and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the
understanding that what we do every day makes a difference. For more
information, please visit www.teleflex.com.
Teleflex is the home of Arrow®, Deknatel®, Hudson RCI®, LMA®, Pilling®,
Rusch® and Weck® – trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose.
1 The Guardian: “The Shorter Your Sleep, the Shorter Your
Life: The New Sleep Science.“ http://bit.ly/2xZXEdR
MAC00599-01 Rev C 2 Dr. David Sussman is a paid consultant of
NeoTract.
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Source: Teleflex Incorporated
Teleflex Incorporated
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Treasurer
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