Peyronie's disease (PD) is a benign penile disorder characterised by fibrotic plaques, leading to curvature and potential sexual dysfunction. It often coexists with diabetes, erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. In Denmark, patients are referred by general practitioners (GPs) to public or private hospitals under a treatment guarantee ensuring care within 30 days.
We conducted a retrospective study of PD patients referred by GPs to Aarhus University Hospital in 2019. Data were retrieved from the Central Denmark Region Business Intelligence Portal. Patient characteristics, plaque location, treatment strategies and surgical outcomes were analysed using REDCap and Excel.
Among 124 referred cases, 101 met the inclusion criteria. After evaluation by a urology specialist, 44 (43.5%) were referred for surgical treatment; 29 (28.7%) were managed surgically in the public sector. Bilateral plaques were more often treated conservatively. Only 14.8% were referred for private sector treatment.
GPs effectively triage PD cases for specialist care. Most patients were treated within the public sector despite capacity constraints. While the treatment guarantee may challenge healthcare sustainability, current referral patterns remain balanced.
None.
Not applicable. The study received approval from the relevant local authorities.
Danish medical journal. 2026 Feb 06*** epublish ***
Kristin Fosli Spanfelt, Jakob Kristian Jakobsen
Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital.