The Refill Rate and Reasons for Abandonment of Phosphodiesterase5 Inhibitors in Erectile Dysfunction Patients / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the rate of abandonment of phosphodiesterase (PDE)5 inhibitor therapy in patients who had reported good treatment efficacy, and to assess the reasons for abandonment of therapy and rate of prescription refilling. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and December 2005, patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) who had begun PDE5 inhibitor therapy in our center were enrolled in this study. A telephone survey of these patients was conducted to determine the rate of prescription refilling and the reasons for abandonment. After receiving the first prescription, patients were asked whether they had used the medication and whether the treatment improved their erectile function using a Global Assessment Questionnaire (GAQ). Medical records for these patients were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: 753 patients with ED began PDE5 inhibitor therapy. Only 200 subjects (26.5%) asked for a refill of PDE5 inhibitors. Of 553 subjects, 330 consented to the telephone survey and 226 subjects (68.5%) had positive response on the GAQ. Forty-one patients continued taking PDE5 inhibitors in other clinics. Finally, the reasons for abandonment were assessed in 185 patients who had reported good treatment efficacy but abandoned therapy. The majority reported that they had experienced improvement of spontaneous erectile function (21.6%). Two hundred subjects requested refills in our center (26.5%) and 41 patients (5.4%) continued a prescription in other clinics, so the rate of refill was greater than 31.9%. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of this study, the improvement of ED was cited as the major reason for abandonment of PDE5 inhibitor therapy. The rate of prescription refilling was greater than 31.9%.