Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Dutasteride versus Finasteride in Patients with Male Androgenic Alopecia in South Korea: A Multicentre Chart Review Study
Gwang Seong Choi, Woo‐Young Sim, Hoon Kang, Chang‐Hun Huh, Yang Won Lee, Sumitra Shantakumar, Yu-Fan Ho, Eun-Jeong Oh, Mei Sheng Duh, Wendy Y. Cheng, Priyanka Bobbili, Philippe Thompson‐Leduc, Gary Ong
Abstract
Background: Dutasteride improves hair growth compared with finasteride in male androgenic alopecia (AGA) and is well tolerated.However, real-world evidence for longterm dutasteride use in AGA is lacking.Objective: To describe baseline characteristics, treatment patterns and long-term safety and effectiveness of dutasteride versus finasteride.Methods: This was a multicentre, retrospective medical chart review study conducted in South Korea.The index date was the first prescription of dutasteride or finasteride.Baseline characteristics were assessed 6 months prior to index.Safety and effectiveness (improvements in basic and specific [BASP] classification) data were collected from index throughout the observation period.Results: Overall, 600 male adult patients were included (dutasteride, n=295; finasteride, n=305).Dutasteride-treated patients were older (p<0.001) and more likely to have moderate/ severe BASP classification at baseline (p=0.010)compared with finasteride-treated patients.Among patients treated with recommended, on-label dosing exclusively (n=535: dutasteride, n=250; finasteride, n=285), dutasteride-treated patients showed greater improvement in hair growth than finasteride-treated patients, as measured by the BASP basic M classification (adjusted incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.06 [1.08, 3.95]; p=0.029).Among this same subset, overall occurrence of adverse events (AEs) during the observation period were not statistically equivalent between groups (dutasteride 7.6%, finasteride 10.5%; p=0.201), although reports of AEs of special interest were equivalent (p<0.001).Conclusion: Dutasteride showed greater effectiveness than finasteride in improving BASP classification in treating male AGA and had a similar or possibly lower occurrence of overall AEs.Dutasteride may provide an effective and safe treatment option for male patients with AGA.