title: Peyronie's disease: prevalence and association with cigarette smoking. A multicenter population-based study in men aged 50-69 years.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We present a multicenter, population-based epidemiological survey aimed at assessing the prevalence of Peyronie's disease (PD) and its potential risk factors in the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In each of the ten centers throughout Italy, a uroandrologist contacted all the men in the age range 50-69 years registered with a general practitioner (GP). The subjects recruited were evaluated on the basis of their medical history, including alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. The following questionnaires were administered: IIEF, IIPSS symptom score, premature ejaculation and PD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the subjects registered with a GP were invited to participate in the study. Of the 1,180 subjects, 647 (53%) entered over survey. In this population, 46 cases of PD were identified, accounting for a prevalence of 7.1%. The prevalence rate increased with age even if the trend is not statistically significant. The multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between cigarette smoking and PD, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.6 (CL 95%) confidence limit 1.506- 14.287). Smoking as single variable had an OR of 7.2 (95% CL 2.34-24.93). No significant association was observed between PD and the other variables such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension and alcohol consumption.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PD is a much more frequent condition in the general population than previously reported. According to our results, cigarette smoking may be considered a risk factor for developing PD. If further and more targeted studies confirm that giving up smoking may reduce the risk of developing PD, then there will be new prospects for primary and secondary prevention and for curbing the progression of the disease.
authors.affiliation: San Camillo Hospital, Rome, Italy. lapera@llibero.it
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Pera
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Pescatori
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calabrese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boffini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andriani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Natali
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vaggi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catuogno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giustini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taggi
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires