Abstract: The DUO study intended to define the factors determining diagnostic and treatment strategies for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) management. Methods : This longitudinal, observational study was conducted in France (June 2004 to March 2005), with a representative sample of private and hospital urologists. Results : 1027 BPH patients were included by 202 urologists and 856 were followed-up 6 months later. Mean I-PSS was 14.9 (±6.7) at inclusion and 10.5 (±6.7) at the follow up visit. At inclusion, pharmacologic treatment was prescribed to 84% of the patients, surgery to 13% and no treatment to 3%. Factors in favour of surgery (versus drugs) were BPH severity (OR=2.5 if IPSS=20), patients'' choice (0R=2.5), quality of life improvement (OR=2.2), post-void residual (OR=2.1) and dribbling (OR=1.6). Patients'' age and prostatic volume have no impact on this choice. Factors in favour of a combination of an a-blocker plus an 5α-reductase inhibitor (versus an α-blocker) were prostate volume (OR=7.8), patient''s age (OR-3.0 if âge=74) and post-void residual (OR=2.3) and those in favour of a 5α reductase inhibitor (versus an α-blocker) were prostate volume (OR=7.6), PSA results (OR=5.8), patients'' age (OR=5.4 if > 74 years, OR= 2.1 if > 68 years). Conclusion : Medical or surgical treatment of BPH results in IPSS improvement at 6 months. Patients'' age and prostatic volume favour 5α-reductase inhibitor initiation and have no impact on surgical treatment decision. Surgery is performed in severe BPH or when patients expecting a quality of life improvement do that choice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]