A recent study has revealed that men who receive long-acting testosterone undecanoate injections are more likely to adhere to their treatment compared to those who receive short-acting testosterone propionate injections. The findings highlight the importance of convenient forms of testosterone therapy in ensuring patient commitment to treatment.
The study, which involved a retrospective analysis of data from over 122,000 men in the United States, compared the adherence rates of men treated with testosterone undecanoate to those treated with testosterone cypionate. The results showed that during the first 6 months of treatment, both groups had similar adherence rates. However, as the treatment duration extended from 7 to 12 months, only 8.2% of patients receiving testosterone cypionate continued treatment, compared to a significant 41.9% of patients receiving testosterone undecanoate.
Dr. Abraham Morgenthaler, assistant professor of surgery at the urology department of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School, expressed the significance of these findings. He stated, “The evidence suggests that more convenient forms of testosterone treatment, such as long-acting injections, are important for the willingness of men with testosterone deficiency to continue treatment.” Dr. Morgenthaler emphasized the growing recognition of testosterone deficiency as a significant health condition and highlighted the broader health benefits that testosterone therapy can provide, including improved blood sugar control, reduced fat mass, increased muscle mass, improved mood, bone density, and even alleviation of anemia. However, realizing these benefits is contingent upon maintaining treatment adherence.
The study, conducted by Dr. Morgenthaler and his colleagues, utilized data from the Veradigm database, which gathers electronic health record data from outpatient facilities across the United States. The researchers focused on men aged 18 and over who had initiated injectable testosterone undecanoate or testosterone cypionate treatment between 2014 and 2018. The data, collected in 6-month intervals up until July 2019, allowed the researchers to assess treatment adherence based on the timing of appointments and any discontinuations, prescription changes, or completion of the originally prescribed testosterone therapy.
Specifically, treatment adherence for the testosterone undecanoate group was defined as a gap of over 42 days between the end date of the first appointment and the start date of the second appointment, or a gap of over 105 days between subsequent appointments. In the testosterone cypionate group, non-adherence was defined as an interval of over 21 days between appointments. In addition to adherence rates, the investigators analyzed various factors such as changes in body weight, BMI, blood pressure, testosterone levels, rates of new cardiovascular events, and relevant risk factors from 3 months before the first injection to 12 months after the start of treatment.
These findings shed light on the importance of long-acting testosterone injections in promoting treatment adherence and maximizing the potential benefits of testosterone therapy. Men with testosterone deficiency can greatly benefit from convenient forms of treatment, ensuring continuity and encouraging long-term commitment to improving their health and overall well-being.
Post time: Jul-07-2023