This isn't anything new, if you look at it this way there are hundreds/thousands of men combined on the forums like Propecia help, solve PFS, Swole Source and here that have been reporting persisting sides that last for years, these forums have been in existence for a long time. The study is basically just looking over medical records of men who have reported this as in the men on the forums above so nothing new.
From my reading I don't believe length of time taking it really matters, I've read so many stories of guys including myself who have taken it for less than a week and their sexual function collapses and then have long term problems HOWEVER I believe there is something in what works for guys who recover, basically exercise, clean living, good diet, fasting all these elements combined do the trick for recovery guys, something which majority cannot stick to hence taking such a long time to recover because they are stuck on trying trt and more drugs.
I believe if men who got hit with sides jumped on the above they would recover far quicker instead of wasting time taking more drugs to fix it and taking four years to bounce back. So don't let anybody tell you there is no hope and it's permanent that's just depressingly defeatist and doesn't help anyone if that's the road you are on how the f*** will you get better with that mindset, for guys who have never recovered would be interesting to see what have they actually done to help themselves get better. There is a way back it's just f*****g hard at the start. Anyway I'm outta here again, good luck.