背景:在COVID-19大流行前的二十年里,睾酮治疗(TT)在美国变得更加普遍。鉴于大流行期间实践模式和医疗保健可及性的强制转变,尚不清楚TT利用率将如何变化。
目的:评估全国睾酮处方的变化。
方法:横断面研究。
方法:2018年至2022年的国家处方药监测计划数据。
方法:所有参与州的个体都服用睾酮处方。
方法:独特的人每年填写睾酮处方,可用的性别和年龄人口统计信息。
结果:2022年,接受TT治疗的受试者相对增加了27%(与2018年相比,增加了439,659例)。这种增加在大流行期间更为明显,患病率上升最明显的是45-54人(114,114人,增加35%)和35-44(97,263人,58%的增加)。除中西部以外的所有地区都增加了接受治疗的总人口,以南方(52%)为首,其次是西方(28%)和东北(23%)。现有数据表明,除24岁以下外,男性占所有年龄组中接受治疗的大多数患者。
结论:研究人群仅限于没有诊断信息和可用人口统计信息的参与州的人群。
结论:在2018年至2022年之间,主要是在2020年大流行开始之后,全国使用TT的人数大幅增加。最大的增长发生在年轻的人群中,主要是男人,比以前报道或研究的要多。这些结果与其他发现相呼应,表明在大流行期间受控物质的使用有所增加,因此需要进一步研究这种上升背后的因素。
BACKGROUND: For two decades preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, testosterone therapy (TT) became more prevalent in the US. Given the forced shift in practice patterns and healthcare accessibility during the pandemic, it was unclear how TT utilization would change.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the change in testosterone prescriptions nationally.
METHODS: Cross-sectional study.
METHODS: State prescription drug monitoring program data between 2018 and 2022.
METHODS: All individuals filling testosterone prescriptions in participating states.
METHODS: Unique people filling testosterone prescriptions annually, demographic information on gender and age as available.
RESULTS: In 2022 there was a 27% relative increase of subjects treated with TT (+439,659 cases compared with 2018). The increase was more evident in the pandemic period with a rise in prevalence most notable for people 45-54 (114,114 people, 35% increase) and 35-44 (97,263 people, 58% increase). All regions except the Midwest increased the total population treated, led by the South (52%) followed by the West (28%) and Northeast (23%). Available data indicated men accounted for most patients treated in all age groups except under 24 years.
CONCLUSIONS: Study population limited to those in participating states with no diagnostic information and limited demographics available.
CONCLUSIONS: Between 2018 and 2022, and primarily after the start of the pandemic in 2020, nationally there was a substantial increase in the number of people using TT. The largest increases occurred in a younger demographic, primarily men, than have previously been reported or studied. These results echo other findings showing increased use of controlled substances during the pandemic period and warrant further study regarding the factors behind this rise.