Thomas L. Schwenk, MD reviewing Layton JB et al. JAMA 2017 Mar 21.

In the case of testosterone, the answer appears to be yes.

Testosterone prescribing for middle-aged and older men in the U.S. rose nearly fourfold from 2000 through 2011. Given the uncertain risk-benefit ratio of testosterone in late-onset hypogonadism and the substantial prevalence of testosterone prescribing without appropriate testing, researchers assessed the effect of televised direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on testosterone prescribing, testing, and treatment initiation in 75 U.S. major media markets. Measures of advertising exposure from 2009 through 2013 were linked with insurance claims data for more than 17 million men, of whom about 1 million received new testosterone tests and about 283,000 received new testosterone prescriptions.

Monthly testing and prescribing rates rose through 2012 before declining in 2013, possibly in response to growing safety concerns. Exposure to unbranded “low T” testosterone advertising also increased through 2012 and declined in 2013; exposure to brand-specific advertising (Androgel and Axiron) increased in 2012, with no decline in 2013. DTCA exposure was associated with greater testosterone testing and new use; for example, each additional televised DTCA exposure of one advertisement per household monthly for 4 years was associated with monthly increases of 14 new tests, 5 new prescriptions, and 2 new prescriptions without testing per 1 million men exposed. The authors estimate that household exposure to one television ad monthly resulted in an increase in new prescriptions of about 1%.

CITATION(S):

Layton JB et al. Association between direct-to-consumer advertising and testosterone testing and initiation in the United States, 2009-2013. JAMA 2017 Mar 21; 317:1159. 

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