Effect of Intensive vs Standard Blood Pressure Treatment Upon Erectile Function in Hypertensive Men: Findings From the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial

Conservative Non-surgical Options for Erectile Dysfunction

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This study aimed to review recent evidence on conservative non-surgical options for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. A narrative review of the literature was performed. A comprehensive search in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases was done. Papers in English language, published from May 2017 until May 2022, were included. Papers reporting basic research or animal research were excluded, as long as reviews or meta-analyses. Congress reports, clinical cases, or clinical trials protocols with no results were also excluded.

RECENT FINDINGS

We found a multitude of different treatment modalities for ED. We must take into account the type of patient, their comorbidities, the origin of their ED, and its severity in order to reproduce effective results using these therapies. Some of the treatments show good results with a good level of evidence (new IPDE5 formulations, intracavernous injections, shock wave therapy, hormonal theraphy, psycho-sexual theraphy). However, others (some new molecules, stem cell theraphy, platelet-rich plasma injections, oxygenation-based therapy, nutraceuticals), although some of them present promising results, require randomized studies with a larger number of patients and a longer follow-up time to be able to establish firm recommendations. Regarding the conservative treatment of erectile dysfunction, in recent years, some therapies have been consolidated as effective and safe for certain types of patients. On the other hand, other treatment modalities, although promising, still lack the evidence and the necessary follow-up to be recommended in daily practice.

Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: A melting pot of circumstances and treatments

Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic metabolic disease characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose, is among the most common chronic diseases. The incidence and prevalence of DM have been increasing over the years. The complications of DM represent a serious health problem. The long-term complications include macroangiopathy, microangiopathy and neuropathy as well as sexual dysfunction (SD) in both men and women. Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been considered the most important SD in men with DM. The prevalence of ED is approximately 3.5-fold higher in men with DM than in those without DM. Common risk factors for the development of DM and its complications include sedentary lifestyle, overweight/obesity and increased caloric consumption. Although lifestyle changes may help improve sexual function, specific treatments are often needed. This study aims to review the definition and prevalence of ED in DM, the impact of DM complications and DM treatment on ED and, finally, the current and emerging therapies for ED in patients with DM.

Analysis of integrated clinical safety data of tadalafil in patients receiving concomitant antihypertensive medications

This pooled safety analysis assessed the incidence of hypotension‐related treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with concomitant use of tadalafil and antihypertensive medications. Data were pooled from seventy‐two Phase II–IV studies conducted on patients with a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED) and/or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Studies were categorized as either All placebo‐controlled studies or All studies. The incidences of hypotension‐related TEAEs and MACEs were analyzed by indication; by use of concomitant antihypertensive medications; and by the number of concomitant antihypertensive medications. A total of 15 030 and 22 825 patients were included in the analyses for All placebo‐controlled studies and All studies, respectively. In the All placebo‐controlled studies, the incidence of hypotension‐related TEAEs and MACEs was ranging between 0.6–1.5% and 0.0–1.0%, respectively, across all indications. Tadalafil was associated with an increase in hypotension‐related TEAEs only in the ED as‐needed group not receiving any concomitant antihypertensive medications (p‐value = .0070); no significant difference was reported between placebo and tadalafil in the groups of patients receiving ≥1 antihypertensive medication (p‐values ≥ .7386). Similarly, no significant differences (p‐values≥ .2238) were observed in the incidence of MACEs between tadalafil and placebo treatment groups, with or without concomitant use of antihypertensive medications, and across all indication categories. In the All studies group, results were similar. The pooled analysis showed no evidence that taking tadalafil alongside antihypertensive medications increases the risk of hypotension‐related TEAEs or MACEs compared with antihypertensive medications alone.

Interactions between erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular drugs

Sexual health has a fundamental role in overall health and well-being, and a healthy and dynamic sex life can make an important contribution to a good quality of life. Sexual dysfunction, and especially erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, is highly prevalent in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD and ED have shared risk factors and pathophysiological links, such as endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and low plasma testosterone levels. ED has been shown to be an independent and early harbinger of future CVD events, providing an important window to initiate preventive measures. Therefore, screening and diagnosing ED is essential for the primary and secondary prevention of CVD because the assessment of ED offers an easy and low-cost prognostic tool that is an alternative to other investigational cardiovascular biomarkers. Moreover, ED is a major contributing factor to the discontinuation of, or poor adherence to, cardiovascular therapy. Cardiovascular drugs have divergent effects on erectile function, with diuretics and β-blockers having the worst profiles, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and nebivolol having the best profiles. Pharmacological treatment of ED has an equivocal effect on the risk of CVD, suggesting a complex interaction between ED and drugs for CVD. In this Review, we discuss how sexual function could be incorporated into the patient history taken by physicians treating individuals with CVD, not merely as part of the diagnostic work-up but as a means to pursue tangible and essential benefits in quality of life and cardiovascular outcomes.

Impact of Anti-hypertensive Therapy in the Sexual Health of Men and Women: An Analysis From the SPRINT Trial

BACKGROUND

Pharmacologic anti-hypertensive (HT) treatment reduces cardiovascular risk. However, many patients are nonadherent due to perceived or real concern about sexual-related side effects.

METHODS

In a subset of the SPRINT (a randomized trial of intensive vs. standard blood-pressure control) trial, we sought to investigate the impact of anti-HT treatment on sexual activities of men and women over time, and whether this impact varied with a more or less intensive anti-HT therapy. Random-effects models for panel/longitudinal data.

RESULTS

Among the 1,268 men and 613 women included in this substudy, 862 (68%) men and 178 (29%) women declared to be engaged in sexual activity of any kind. Compared with women and men not engaged in sexual activity, those engaged were younger (64 vs. 69 years for women and 65 vs. 75 years for men). Women had an overall low satisfaction with their sexual life but their sexual health was not affected by anti-HT therapy over time nor modified by an intensive treatment. Men's erections were slightly deteriorated over time (-0.1 to -0.2 points on a scale of 1 (worse) to 5 (best); P < 0.05), but were not aggravated by intensive anti-HT therapy (P > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

Self-declared women's sexual health was not affected by an intensive anti-HT therapy. Men reported a slight deterioration in the quality of their erections, irrespective of standard or intensive therapy. These findings may help reassuring patients about the sexual safety of intensive anti-HT therapy, therefore, potentially improving adherence to intensive therapy strategy.

COPD burden on sexual well-being

Background

Sexual function is often affected in patients suffering from chronic diseases especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the effect of COPD on sexual satisfaction is underappreciated in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of COPD on patient’s sexuality and the explanatory variables of sexual dissatisfaction.

Methods

Questionnaires were emailed to participants and they submitted their responses on the Santé Respiratoire France website. Data about sexual well-being (Arizona Sexual Experience Scale, ASEX), Quality of life (VQ11), anxiety, depression (Hospitalized anxiety and depression, HAD) and self-declared COPD grade were collected.

Results

Seven hundred and fifty one subjects were included and were characterized as follows: women—51%, mean age—61 years, in a couple—62% and 70%—retired. Every grade of COPD was represented. Out of 751 participants, 301 participants (40%) had no sexual activity and 450 (60%) had sexual activity. From the 450 participants, 60% needed to change their sexual life because of their disease (rhythm, frequency and position). Subjects often used medications to improve sexual performance (43% used short-acting bronchodilator and 13% -specific erectile dysfunction drugs). ASEX questionnaire confirmed patients’ dissatisfaction (diminution of sexual appetite for 68% and sexual desire for 60%) because of breathlessness and fatigue. Eighty one percent of the responders had an altered quality of life (VQ11 mean score 35) and frequent suspected anxiety or depression (HAD mean score 10.8). Ninety percent declared that sexual dysfunction had never been discussed by their doctors, while 36% of patients would have preferred to undergo a specialized consultation.

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction is frequent among COPD patients and leads to an altered well-being, however being a cultural taboo, it remains frequently neglected. Sexual guidance should be a part of patient’s consultations improve quality of sexual life.