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Statins may offer added benefit for men with erectile dysfunction
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WASHINGTON — Men who use statins to improve their cholesterol levels may also experience clinically relevant improvements in erectile function, researchers reported at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions.
“Statins are associated with better erectile function as measured by the subjective measure of the International Inventory of Erectile Function,” John B. Kostis, MD, director of the Cardiovascular Institute and associate dean for cardiovascular research at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, said at a press briefing.
Kostis and Jeanne M. Dobrzynski, BA, presented findings from the first meta-analysis of previous studies on erectile dysfunction and statins. They identified 11 randomized controlled trials (n=647; mean age, 57.8 years) that measured erectile function using the International Inventory of Erectile Function, a self-administered survey with five questions, each scored on a five-point scale and totaled. Lower values represent poorer sexual function, according to a press release.
John B. Kostis
Analysis of the 11 studies suggested a significant effect of statin therapy on erectile function in men with both high cholesterol levels and erectile dysfunction. Overall, erectile function scores increased by 3.4 points in men who used statins (from 14 to 17.4, a 24.3% increase; P<.0001), according to the study abstract.
“The increase in erectile function scores with statins was approximately one-third to one-half of what has been reported with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis” and was larger than the effect of testosterone or lifestyle modification, Kostis said.
Meta-regression demonstrated increasing benefit of statin therapy with decreasing lipophilicity. The researchers observed no effect related to the average age of participants in the studies, changes in LDL cholesterol or diabetes history.
Although statins are not recommended as a primary treatment for erectile dysfunction in men with healthy cholesterol levels, “this effect may improve adherence of patients to statin therapy,” Kostis said.
The researchers noted several limitations of the meta-analysis, including a small number of participants, small number of studies, different statins used and varying durations of therapy.
“A well-powered, placebo-controlled trial, with factorial design would clarify the effect of statins in relevant patient subsets,” Kostis said. – by Katie Kalvaitis
For more information:
Kostis JB. Session 1170M. Effect of statins on erectile function. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions; March 29-31, 2014; Washington, D.C.
Disclosure: Kostis reports no relevant financial disclosures.