7 464 730 (5.6%) had either a primary or secondary diagnosis of BPH.• The age-adjusted prevalence of BPH among all hospitalizations, irrespective of primary diagnosis, increased from 4.3% to 8% ( P < 0.001) during the study period.• The age-adjusted prevalence of BPH as a primary diagnosis decreased from 0.88% to 0.48% ( P < 0.001).• Discharges for BPH surgery decreased 51% (odds ratio [OR] 0.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-0.54, P -trend < 0.001) over time. Discharges for primary BPH with acute renal failure increased > 400% (OR 4.28, 95% CI 3.22-5.71, P -trend < 0.001).• There were no significant changes in discharges for primary BPH with urinary retention ( P -trend = 0.636), bladder stones ( P -trend = 0.117), or urinary infection ( Ptrend = 0.101) over time.
CONCLUSIONS• Increased hospitalizations for BPH with acute renal failure and stable hospitalizations for other AEs of BPH indicate that severe AEs of BPH persist despite widespread use of oral therapies in the USA.• Further studies are needed to explain these trends. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? In clinical trials, oral medications for BPH have been effective at managing LUTS and preventing progression to urinary retention, urinary infections, and renal insufficiency. Population-level trends of these adverse outcomes are poorly characterized. We identified a 400% increase in hospitalizations for BPH with acute renal failure, indicating that severe adverse events of BPH persist despite widespread use of oral therapies in the USA. OBJECTIVE