THE IMPACT OF EDUCATIONAL STATUS ON PATIENTS COMPLIANCE WITH PDE5IS: A COMPARATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL REAL-LIFE STUDY

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

5-9-2025

Publication Title

J Sex Med

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of educational status on patients’ compliance regarding prescribed phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is) in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) has been scantly analysed. We investigated the impact of educational status on compliance with PDE5is in naïve men for PDE5is presenting with new-onset ED. Methods: Complete data from 1264 consecutive men presenting with new onset ED and naïve to PDE5is were prospectively analysed. Patients were grouped according to their educational status into low (elementary and/or secondary school education), mid (high school) and high (university degrees) educational levels. Baseline health significant comorbidities were scored with the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). All patients have been prescribed with a PDE5i. Hence, all patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), at baseline and after treatment discontinuation. Kaplan–Meier (KM) curves estimated the discontinuation free-survival (DFS) after stratification according to educational status. Univariable (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) Cox regression addressed the association between educational status and PDE5is’ discontinuation. Results: Of all, 160 (13%), 573 (45%) and 531 (42%) individuals depicted low, mid and high educational status, respectively. Median (IQR) age and median (IQR) follow-up time were 51 (39-61) and 8.5 (5.9-11.3) years. Patients with higher educational levels were more likely to be younger (49 vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), reporting lower median BMI values (25 vs. 26.3 kg/m2, p < 0.001) and lower rates of CCI > = 2 (8.7% vs. 11%, p = 0.006), compared to their low educational level counterparts. No significant differences were found in terms of median duration of PDE5is assumption and IIEF-erectile function (IIEF-EF) across the groups. At KM, the lower the educational level the greater the adherence to the prescribed PDE5i (p = 0.02) (Fig. 1). Cox regression analysis, confirmed that older men (HR: 1.01, p = 0.02) and those with high educational level (HR: 1.90, p = 0.03) were more likely to discontinue PDE5is. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the higher the edu cational level the greater the probability of PDE5is drop off. These results highlight a particular aspect of patients’ compliance with PDE5is, enabling improvements in pharmacological management for ED.

Volume

22

Issue

Supplement 2

First Page

2

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