Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) Alleviates Pain, Enhances Erectile Function and Improves Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Purpose: Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), affecting over 90% of patients with symptomatic prostatitis, remains a therapeutic challenge and adversely affects patients' quality of life (QoL). This study probed for likely beneficial effects of ESWT, evaluating its extent and durability. Patients and methods: Standardized indices, namely the pain, urinary, and QoL domains and total score of NIH-CPSI, IIEF-5, EHS, IPSS, and AUA QoL_US were employed in this study of patients with CP/CPPS who had been refractory to other prior treatments (n = 215; age range: 32-82 years; median age: 57.5 +/- 12.4 years; modal age: 41 years). Results: For CP symptoms, the mean pre-ESWT NIH-CPSI total score of 27.1 +/- 6.8 decreased by 31.3-53.6% over 12 months after ESWT. The mean pre-ESWT NIH-CPSI pain (12.5 +/- 3.3), urinary (4.98 +/- 2.7), and QoL (9.62 +/- 2.1) domain scores improved by 2.3-fold, 2.2-fold, and 2.0-fold, respectively, by month 12 post-ESWT. Compared with the baseline IPSS of 13.9 +/- 8.41, we recorded 27.1-50.9% amelioration of urinary symptoms during the 12 months post-ESWT. For erectile function, compared to pre-ESWT values, the IIEF-5 also improved by similar to 1.3-fold by month 12 after ESWT. This was corroborated by EHS of 3.11 +/- 0.99, 3.37 +/- 0.65, 3.42 +/- 0.58, 3.75 +/- 0.45, and 3.32 +/- 0.85 at baseline, 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post-ESWT. Compared to the mean pre-ESWT QoL score (4.29 +/- 1.54), the mean QoL values were 3.26 +/- 1.93, 3.45 +/- 2.34, 3.25 +/- 1.69, and 2.6 +/- 1.56 for months 1, 2, 6, and 12 after ESWT, respectively. Conclusions: This study shows ESWT, an outpatient and easy-to-perform, minimally invasive procedure, effectively alleviates pain, improves erectile function, and ameliorates quality of life in patients with refractory CP/CPPS.

Automated summary

ESWT treatment has significant benefits for patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), effectively relieving pain, improving erectile function, and enhancing quality of life.