$primer=$dbh->prepare("SELECT count(*) FROM subscription where userid=? ");

foreach $userid (@compare_array){
    $primer->execute($userid);
      if ($primer->err()){$message.=$primer->errstr(); &shellout; exit;}
       ($count)=$primer->fetchrow_array();

           if($count > 0){#there is a match
                    }else{#there was no match
                    }
}