title: Impact of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor treatment on the rates of sexually transmitted diseases in a Veterans Affairs Medical Center patient population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate whether the rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are higher in a veteran population prescribed phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors for erectile dysfunction compared to individuals not prescribed these medications.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective cohort study included male veterans who filled at least 1 prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009. A comparator cohort of male veterans was matched for age and marital status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10 154 subjects were evaluated. The number of unique subjects with confirmed STDs within the study period was not significantly different between the PDE5 inhibitor cohort and the comparator cohort (n = 8 vs 10, P = .638) nor was there a significant difference in the total number of STDs acquired (n = 8 vs 13, P = .267). Characteristics of subjects who contracted an STD included younger age, African American race, and single marital status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the use of a PDE5 inhibitor in this VAMC patient population was not associated with an increase in the incidence of STDs. Individuals who contracted a new STD tended to be younger, not married, and African American.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corbo
authors.forename: Jamie N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Mary L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors
keywords: erectile dysfunction; phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor; sexually transmitted disease