Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease-Like Symptoms in Men Presenting With Dupuytren Contractures

Alan W Shindel; Genevieve Sweet; William Thieu; Blythe Durbin-Johnson; Jennifer Rothschild; Robert Szabo

doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2017.06.001

Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease-Like Symptoms in Men Presenting With Dupuytren Contractures

Sex Med. 2017 Sep;5(3):e135-e141. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2017.06.001. Epub 2017 Jul 1.

Authors

Alan W Shindel¹, Genevieve Sweet², William Thieu³, Blythe Durbin-Johnson⁴, Jennifer Rothschild³, Robert Szabo⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA; Department of Urology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Electronic address: awshindel@ucdavis.edu.
² Department of Urology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA; Sutter Medical Group, Roseville, CA, USA.
³ Department of Urology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
⁵ Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Peyronie's disease (PD) and Dupuytren contractures (DC) are often comorbid and are believed to have a similar underlying pathophysiologic mechanism.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of PD-like symptoms (PDLS) in men with DC.

Methods: From October 2013 to December 2016, men who were seen and evaluated for DC were offered the opportunity to participate in an anonymous survey. The survey assessed several basic demographic and sexual health factors and included items from the International Index of Erectile Function and the Erection Hardness Scale. Men who reported PDLS were asked a series of questions derived from the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire and for their opinions on theoretical treatment modalities for sexual problems and penile deformity.

Main outcome measure: Prevalence of PDLS in men with DC.

Results: One hundred forty men with DC were invited to participate; 85 surveys were returned (response rate = 61%). Twenty-two respondents (26%, 95% confidence interval = 17-35) reported PDLS. Approximately one fourth of all respondents had an Erection Hardness Scale score lower than 3. The most common specific PDLS concerns were penile curvature (91%), length loss (55%), narrowing (36%), and hinging (32%). In men with PDLS, 73% felt at least a little bothered by the symptoms when attempting sexual activity and 40% reported having sex less frequently because of the symptoms. Just 27% of men with PDLS had ever used a treatment for a sexual concern. In terms of treatments for penile deformities, 64% of men with PDLS expressed an interest in treatment administered in the form of an in-office procedure; 41% were potentially amenable to a surgical procedure.

Conclusion: The prevalence of PDLS in men with DC is similar to the prevalence of DC in men diagnosed with PD. A substantial number of these men have distress and would consider standard-of-care treatments for PD. Shindel AW, Sweet G, Thieu W, et al. Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease-Like Symptoms in Men Presenting With Dupuytren Contractures. Sex Med 2017;5:e135-e141.

Keywords: Dupuytren Contractures; Epidemiology; Peyronie's Disease; Screening; Survey Research; Treatment.