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Utilization and prescription patterns of phosphidiesterase-5 inhibitor medications in the United States military health system

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 30, pages 300–305 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE-5Is) are the first-line medical treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), but are often restricted in public formularies. This study assesses PDE-5I usage among active-duty service members before and after the addition of sildenafil to the formulary of the Military Health System (MHS) in 2012. To assess, a cross-sectional evaluation was conducted, utilizing encounter and pharmaceutical claims data from the Military Health System Data Repository between 2010 and 2014. Separate zero-inflated, negative binomial models were used to assess changes in usage rates by prescription and by number of pills issued, for 37 947 patients. Increased PDE-5I usage was noted with select comorbidities, notably mental health and neurologic conditions. There was significant proportional variation in medication distribution following inclusion of sildenafil within the MHS formulary, with a minimal demographic impact on medication models. The average number of prescriptions decreased, while the quantity of distributed medications increased. A significant portion of PDE-5I recipients were young men, under 25 years old, who received medications on the first visit, which invites speculation about the effectiveness of treatment and appropriateness of use. Future studies aimed at evaluating prevalence in younger population may be of benefit.

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Acknowledgements

This research was funded by a grant from the United States Defense Health Agency, through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, for the Comparative Effectiveness and Provider-Induced Demand Collaboration (EPIC).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Jon Montgomery, Todd Leroux & Tracey Pérez Koehlmoos

  2. Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Rockville, MD, USA

    Cathaleen Madsen

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  1. Jon Montgomery
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  2. Cathaleen Madsen
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  4. Tracey Pérez Koehlmoos
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Correspondence to Cathaleen Madsen.

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Montgomery, J., Madsen, C., Leroux, T. et al. Utilization and prescription patterns of phosphidiesterase-5 inhibitor medications in the United States military health system. Int J Impot Res 30, 300–305 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-018-0037-3

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