 and cardiovascular screening)
In a nutshell
This study looked at the link between a medication for erectile dysfunction (known as PDE5i) and the early screening of cardiovascular disease (CVD – heart and blood vessel disease). The study concluded that PDE5i use can help with the early detection for CVD.
Some background
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5is), such as sildenafil (Viagra), are a first-line treatment of erectile dysfunction. PDE5is expand blood vessels and increase blood flow to the penis. Erectile dysfunction is often caused by reduced blood flow to the penis. Previous studies have suggested that erectile dysfunction can be an early warning sign of a current, or future, cardiovascular condition. The use of PDE5is may therefore help in the detection of previously undiagnosed CVD.
Methods & findings
5,858 men with erectile dysfunction who were newly prescribed a PDE5i were included. They were compared to 5,858 men without erectile dysfunction matched by age. None of the men included had a history of CVD.
An increase in medication use for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetic medications were observed within 90 days after the new PDE5i prescription. This was significantly greater compared to men without erectile dysfunction.
A further analysis was carried out in men who had a CVD screening test within 30 days of their PDE5i presctiption. This showed that most of the increase in CVD-related medication use was in men who had their cholesterol and blood sugars tested within those 30 days.
The bottom line
The study concluded that men prescribed a PDE5i for erectile dysfunction were more commonly screened for CVD risk compared to men without erectile dysfunction.
The fine print
This study looked at existing data (retrospective), which makes conclusions about causality more difficult.
What’s next?
Talk to your doctor about CVD screening.
Published By :
The journal of sexual medicine
Date :
Dec 01, 2017
