Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are higher in a veteran population prescribed phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction compared to individuals not prescribed these medications.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included male veterans who filled at least 1 prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009. A comparator cohort of male veterans was matched for age and marital status.
Results: A total of 10 154 subjects were evaluated. The number of unique subjects with confirmed STDs within the study period was not significantly different between the PDE5 inhibitor cohort and the comparator cohort (n = 8 vs 10, P = .638) nor was there a significant difference in the total number of STDs acquired (n = 8 vs 13, P = .267). Characteristics of subjects who contracted an STD included younger age, African American race, and single marital status.
Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the use of a PDE5 inhibitor in this VAMC patient population was not associated with an increase in the incidence of STDs. Individuals who contracted a new STD tended to be younger, not married, and African American.
Written by:
Corbo JM, Brown JN, Bryan WE, Townsend ML Are you the author?
Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
Reference: J Pharm Pract. 2014 Feb;27(1):40-5 (Epub 2013 Oct 15)
doi: 10.1177/0897190013504956
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24128787
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