A survey of primary-care physicians and urologists regarding Peyronie's disease

Introduction. Peyronie's disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder with an uncertain etiology that causes penile deformity. The interest in PD and our understanding of the disorder has grown significantly in recent years. Data have shown that several previous beliefs regarding the prevalence, natural history, and treatment of PD were incorrect. The prevalence is significantly higher than the previously reported 1%, and most cases of PD do not spontaneously resolve. Aim. To determine the extent to which newer information about PD has reached physicians who are likely to encounter men with PD and to determine practice patterns regarding this disorder. Methods. We created a survey of 20 questions and mailed it to primary-care physicians (PCPs) and urologists (UROs) in Illinois and Wisconsin. Main Outcome Measures. Responses to individual survey items were totaled. Results. We received 152 responses from PCPs and 98 from UROs for response rates of 43% and 44%, respectively. Survey results revealed the following: 63% of PCPs and 41% of UROs thought the prevalence is less than 1%; 17% of PCPs and 38% of UROs believed PD spontaneously resolves in greater than 50% of cases; 17% of PCPs and 9% of UROs did not think PD occurs in men younger than 40 years of age; 48% of PCPs and 37% of UROs did not believe that PD is frequently associated with ED; 51% of PCPs and 1% of UROs were unsure if any effective medical or surgical treatment for PD existed. Conclusion. These data suggest that many physicians who are very likely to encounter men with PD have incorrect assumptions about the disease, and this can negatively affect diagnosis and treatment of men with PD.