For a study, researchers sought to comprehend the connection between hypogonadism and the risk of infection for penile prostheses.
Using the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database, they conducted a retrospective study. From January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2017, males with ED diagnoses who had penile prosthesis implantation were identified. A diagnosis of hypogonadism was made, along with comorbidities and risk factors. Men were monitored after having a penile prosthesis fitted until the day of the procedure to remove it owing to infection. To account for several known confounding variables, Cox proportional hazards models from the time of penile prosthesis surgery to the date of infection were conducted.
A total of 16,660 males who received penile prostheses throughout the research period were identified. At the time of their initial operation date, 4,832 males (29.0%) had been diagnosed with hypogonadism. 421 (2.5%) device infections necessitated an explanation. Descriptively, removal and replacement operations had a greater rate of infections than main implant placements. Penile prosthesis infection was independently linked to a 25.8% greater incidence of hypogonadism (HR: 1.258, 95% CI: 1.024-1.546). The effect of hypogonadism on infection risk was no longer significant among the men who had testosterone therapy for hypogonadism (prescription data during 0-30 days and within 0-90 days of their initial implant operation).
Untreated hypogonadism was linked to a 26% increased incidence of infection in penile prostheses. The relationship, which was probably what caused it, was particularly noticeable in males who had removal and replacement surgery. It showed that testosterone treatment, particularly in males undergoing revision, may be advantageous for testosterone-deficient men prior to penile implant.
Reference: goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295(22)00509-X/fulltext
