Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34103256›Full record

ArticleThe journal of sexual medicine2021

The Association Between Hemoglobin A1c Levels and Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Infection: Analysis of US Insurance Claims Data.

Tony Chen, Shufeng Li, Michael L Eisenberg

Open access · greenAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of sexual medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.9field-weighted citation impact, top 28% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Practice patterns of Canadian penile prosthesis implanters A survey-based analysis.Canadian Urological Association journal = Journal de l'Association des urologues du Canada · 2025
    Article
  3. Risky business: penile prosthesis in high-risk patients.Translational andrology and urology · 2025
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Tony ChenDepartment of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: chentony@stanford.edu.
Shufeng LiDepartment of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Michael L EisenbergDepartment of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Stanford University · US

Funding

Stanford Center for Clinical & Translational Education and Research (Spectrum)UL1TR003142 · NCATS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI O'HARA, RUTH M · 2019 to 2023
$45.0M
Spectrum Stanford Center for clinical and Translational Research and EducationUL1TR001085 · NCATS · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · PI CULLEN, MARK RICHARD, GREENBERG, HARRY BERNARD · 2013 to 2017
$37.1M
NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR001085NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR003142
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe association between elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and the risk of postoperative infection after penile prosthesis surgery remains controversial.

aimTo examine the association between HbA1c levels and penile implant infections in men undergoing inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery for erectile dysfunction using a large insurance claims database.

methodsThis was a retrospective review using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Male subjects 18 years and older with available laboratory data undergoing IPP insertion between 2003 and 2018 were included. Administrative diagnosis and procedural codes were used to assess subsequent penile implant revision surgery status for either infectious or noninfectious causes. Associated conditions were controlled for such as smoking status, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity status, and Peyronie's disease. OUTCOMES: The main outcomes were risk of revision for infection and time to revision.

resultsA total of 2,363 individuals underwent initial IPP insertion and had available HbA1c data with a mean HbA1c of 6.9%. The overall IPP infection revision rate was 3.9% and the highest rate of 12.1% was seen in the highest HbA1c group (>10%). After adjusting for demographic and health factors, a higher HbA1c level was associated with a higher risk of revision for infection, with every 1 point increase in HbA1c conferring an increased risk of infection requiring revision by 29% (95% CI 17-42%). When infections did occur, they happened sooner in men with HbA1c > 10.0% with an average of 1.3 months vs 3.5 months in the HbA1c < 6.0% group. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings provide insight into the potential relationship between HbA1c levels and postoperative risk of infection after penile prosthesis surgery and may aid in clinical decision-making. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: Strengths include the large sample size, length of data coverage, and real-world analysis of surgeries done across the United States. Limitations include the reliance on insurance claims data, the retrospective study design, and lack of additional relevant clinical variables that may impact infection rates.

conclusionsWhile the overall risk of penile prosthesis infection remains modest, the current report notes an increased risk of infection for diabetic men with poor glycemic control. Chen T, Li S, Eisenberg ML. The Association Between Hemoglobin A1c Levels and Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Infection: Analysis of US Insurance Claims Data. J Sex Med 2021;18:1104-1109.

Indexed as

Erectile DysfunctionInsurancePenile ImplantationPenile ProsthesisGlycated HemoglobinHumansMaleRetrospective StudiesGlycated HemoglobinDiabetesErectile DysfunctionInfectionPenile ProsthesisRevision

Identifiers

PMID34103256
PMCPMC8253516
OpenAlexW3169575656

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.