ABSTRACT
Objectives
To evaluate contemporary clinical presentations of priapism, their association with
socioeconomic characteristics, and the role of prescribing providers in priapism episodes
in a large cohort of patients managed at 3 major academic health systems.
Methods
We identified all consecutive patients presenting with ischemic priapism to the emergency
departments of three major academic health systems (2014 –2019). Demographic characteristics,
priapism etiologies, and clinical management were evaluated. Univariable and multivariable
analyses were used to assess the contribution of socioeconomic characteristics and
the role of prescribing providers in priapism episodes.
Results
We identified 102 individuals with a total of 181 priapism encounters. Hispanic race,
lower income quartile, sickle-cell disease, and illicit drug use were associated with
increased risk of recurrent episodes. Of ICI users, 57% received their prescriptions
from non-urological medical professionals (NUMPs); the proportion with recurrent episodes
was higher for NUMPs compared to urologists (24% vs 0%, P = 0.06) with no demographic differences identified between patients treated by either
group.
Conclusion
Socioeconomic disparities exist among patients presenting with recurrent episodes
of priapism, potentially highlighting systemic issues with access to care and patient
education. With most patients who developed ischemic priapism from ICI being prescribed
these medications by NUMPs, further investigation is required to elucidate the prescribing
and counseling patterns of these providers. Increased awareness of disparities and
complications may improve patient safety.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 19, 2021
Accepted:
March 5,
2021
Received:
January 16,
2021
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
