Efectividad y satisfacción con el tratamiento en pacientes con disfunción eréctil en España: Estudio EDOS

Safety and efficacy of intraurethral alprostadil in patients with erectile dysfunction refractory to treatment using phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors

INTRODUCTION

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) are the first choice for treating erectile dysfunction (ED) but are not always effective. The aim of this study was to present our experience in treating patients with ED, refractory to treatment with PDE5i, using intraurethral alprostadil (MUSE).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a review of 82 patients with ED and no response to PDE5i, from March 2013 to October 2014. Forty-seven patients (57%) had hypertension (AHT), 24 (29%) had diabetes (DM) and 20 (24%) had AHT and DM. Additionally, 19 (23%) had undergone radical prostatic (RP) surgery. The patients were evaluated after the treatment was applied and at 4 weeks using the following validated questionnaires: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5/SHIM), Global Assessment Questionnaire (GAQ), Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) and Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction (EDITS).

RESULTS

The mean patient age was 60.5 years (40-80), and the mean follow-up was 11.3 months (1-20). Sixty-eight percent of the treated patients responded to MUSE(®) (74% in the AHT group, 65% in the AHT+DM group, 62.5% in the DM group and 58% in the RP group). The mean IIEF-5 score was 11.7±4.7, which increased to 18.6±4.9 after MUSE was administered (P=.027). The mean EDITS score at 4 weeks was 61.6 (6-81.9). The most common adverse effect was urethral burning, which occurred in 24 patients (29%). There were no cases of urinary tract infection, syncope or priapism.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraurethral alprostadil is an effective treatment and has a broad safety profile for treating patients with erectile dysfunction refractory to oral treatment with PDE5i.

Preference for erectile dysfunction treatments: Assessment by means of consumers preference analysis techniques

INTRODUCTION

Patient preference for erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments is of great importance for satisfaction and adherence. We have assessed the usefulness of the main technique for assessing consumer preferences (conjoint analysis) to analyze preferences towards these treatments. We also assessed the influence of age, frequency of sexual intercourse, co-morbidities, ED severity or having testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS).

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study in 626 men aged ≥18 years that had recently taken at least two different PDE5i, one being vardenafil orodispersible (ODT). Seven selected features of ED treatments were tested. Different series of scenarios (cards) were created by combining these features: two series of 4 features (9 cards), another one series of 7 (16 cards). Short series were tested in Primary Care, and the long series in Urology/Andrology offices. Influences were tested by rank ordered logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The feature «administration form» was consistently given the most relative importance; the ODT form was given the greatest utility. Consensus towards the most and least preferred treatment was achieved only in one of the short series tested. Only severity of TDS symptoms, or having the most frequent symptoms, influenced treatment preference. Influence was mild.

CONCLUSIONS

Conjoint analysis is a valid method for assessing preferences for ED treatments. A short series of highly selected attributes is advisable. Easiness and convenience of administration are of great importance for users. TDS symptomatology mildly affects preference.