Study: Erectile Dysfunction Treatment May Lower the Risk of Mortality After MI

Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors, which are used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), were associated with a reduced risk of mortality after hospitalization for myocardial infarction (MI), according to a new study presented at the American College of Cardiology 66th Annual Scientific Session and Exposition.

The Swedish nation-wide cohort study examined the association between erectile dysfunction and death or cardiovascular outcomes in 43,145 men younger than age 80 years who were hospitalized for an MI during 2007 through 2013 and did not have a prior history of ED, cardiac revascularization, or MI. Researchers defined ED as patients receiving ED medication, and the men were treated with either phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors or alprostadil.
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During the mean 6.2 years of follow-up, 7.1% of patients had developed ED.

Men with ED had a 30% lower mortality of risk and a 36% lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure compared with men without ED.

The researchers found that phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors reduced the risk of death but did not find any association between alprostadil and mortality risk.

Compared with alprostadil treatment, men with 1 prescription of phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors had a 27% lower risk of mortality, with 2 to 5 prescriptions had a 45% reduced risk, and with more than 5 prescriptions had a 79% reduced risk.

“Incident ED after a first MI was associated with a reduced mortality and heart failure hospitalization,” the researchers concluded. “Only men treated with phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors had a reduced risk, which appeared to be dose-dependent.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Andersson DP, Lagerros YT, Grotta A, Bellocco R, Lehtihet M, Holzmann M. Association between erectile dysfunction and death or cardiovascular outcomes after myocardial infarction. Presented at: American College of Cardiology 66th Annual Scientific Session and Exposition; March 17-19, 2017; Washington, DC. http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4223/presentation/37784.