Vascular Erectile Dysfunction and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease

Effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well established, although there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its impact on erectile function.

AIM

To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function in men and to identify factors that may influence this effect.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effects of aerobic exercise on erectile function via the Erectile Function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-EF). The mean difference in IIEF-EF scores between the aerobic exercise and nonexercising control groups was estimated by a random-effects meta-analysis. Meta-regression was used to evaluate the association of moderator variables on meta-analysis results.

OUTCOMES

The IIEF-EF score is reported on a 6-30 scale, with higher values indicating better erectile function.

RESULTS

Among 11 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis, aerobic exercise resulted in statistically significant improvements in IIEF-EF scores as compared with controls, with a mean difference of 2.8 points (95% CI, 1.7-3.9; P < .001) and moderate heterogeneity among studies (I2 = 53%). The effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function was greater in men with lower baseline IIEF-EF scores, with improvements of 2.3, 3.3, and 4.9 points for mild, moderate, and severe erectile dysfunction, respectively (P = .02). The meta-analysis results were not influenced by publication bias or individual study effects.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Health care providers should consider recommending regular aerobic exercise as a low-risk nonpharmacologic therapy for men experiencing erectile difficulties.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

The primary strength of this review was the generation of level 1 evidence on a topic of general interest regarding sexual health in men. However, the included studies evaluated diverse groups, which may complicate data interpretation for specific segments of the population.

CONCLUSION

Regular aerobic exercise can improve the erectile function of men, particularly those with lower baseline IIEF-EF scores.

Can Erectile Dysfunction Severity Predict Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Men Undergoing Dialysis? A Prospective Cohort Study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the impact of severe erectile dysfunction (ED) on future major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in men on dialysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 71 men on dialysis. ED was assessed using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). Men were divided into the mild/moderate ED (SHIM score ≥8) and severe ED (SHIM score ≤7) groups. The primary endpoint was MACE-free survival. MACE was a composite of myocardial infarction, cardiovascular death, and stroke. The secondary endpoints were cardiac event-free survival and overall survival (OS). Moreover, the predictive abilities of severe ED for 5-year MACE, 5-year cardiac events, and 5-year overall mortality were evaluated.

RESULTS

The median age and follow-up period of the included men were 64 years and 58 months, respectively. The median SHIM score was 4.0; all had a degree of ED, and 64.7% had severe ED. In the background-adjusted multivariable analyses, severe ED was not significantly associated with shorter MACE-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.890; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.533-6.706; p=0.324), cardiac event-free survival (HR, 2.081; 95% CI, 0.687-6.304; p=0.195), and OS (HR, 0.817; 95% CI, 0.358-1.863; p=0.630). Severe ED did not significantly improve the predictive abilities for 5-year MACE, 5-year cardiac events, and 5-year overall mortality (p=0.110, p=0.101, and p=0.740, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

ED severity was not associated with shorter MACE-free survival, cardiac event-free survival, or OS, and ED severity could not improve the predictive abilities for these outcomes in men undergoing dialysis.

Association between Aortic Calcification Burden and the Severity of Erectile Dysfunction in Men Undergoing Dialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

Accelerated atherosclerosis is a major complication in patients with end-stage renal disease and it plays an important role in the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the association between aortic calcification burden and the severity of ED remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate this association in men undergoing dialysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 71 men undergoing peritoneal dialysis and/or hemodialysis between July 2016 and May 2018 at Mutsu General Hospital. ED was assessed with the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). Patients were divided into the mild/moderate (SHIM score ≥8) and severe ED groups (SHIM score ≤7). Aortic calcification index (ACI) was examined as a clinical indicator of abdominal aortic calcification. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the significant factors associated with severe ED.

RESULTS

The median age of the study participants was 64 years; all had ED, with 64.8% having severe ED. In the multivariable analyses, a slight association was observed between ankle-brachial index and severe ED (odds ratio [OR], 0.058; p=0.072), whereas ACI was significantly associated with severe ED (OR, 1.022; p=0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Aortic calcification burden was independently associated with severe ED.

Association between erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular risk factors, and coronary artery disease: Role of exercise stress testing and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire

Background

The exercise stress test (EST) is a non-invasive investigation to diagnose coronary artery disease. This research aimed to determine the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED), cardiovascular risk factors, and coronary artery disease (CAD) in men referred for EST.

Methods

A prospective cohort study enrolling 303 patients from August 2020 through September 2021. All patients filled out the international Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. . They underwent an exercise stress test (EST). A two-tailed independent sample t-test, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.

Results

EST was positive in 110 (36.3%) patients, negative in 154 (50.8%), and inconclusive in 39 (12.8%) patients. ED was present in 225 (74.3%) patients and absent in 78 (25.8%) patients. 278 (91.7%) had one or more cardiovascular risk factors. This study reported a significant relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), and the results of EST and ED. Compared to patients without ED, patients with ED had a positive EST result. Definite CAD was diagnosed in 21% of patients with ED compared to 1.3% in patients without ED. For a one-unit increase in age, the odds of ED increased by about 5%. Similarly, a negative EST is compared to a positive EST. Negative EST reduced the likelihood of ED by 82%.

Conclusions

This research found a statistically significant connection between CAD, certain cardiovascular risk factors, and ED using the EST and IIEF-5 questionnaires. This research is significant because it may alter the way cardiovascular risk stratification is done.

Cardiovascular/Stroke Risk Assessment in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction-A Role of Carotid Wall Arterial Imaging and Plaque Tissue Characterization Using Artificial Intelligence Paradigm: A Narrative Review

PURPOSE

The role of erectile dysfunction (ED) has recently shown an association with the risk of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) via the atherosclerotic pathway. Cardiovascular disease (CVD)/stroke risk has been widely understood with the help of carotid artery disease (CTAD), a surrogate biomarker for CHD. The proposed study emphasizes artificial intelligence-based frameworks such as machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) that can accurately predict the severity of CVD/stroke risk using carotid wall arterial imaging in ED patients.

METHODS

Using the PRISMA model, 231 of the best studies were selected. The proposed study mainly consists of two components: (i) the pathophysiology of ED and its link with coronary artery disease (COAD) and CHD in the ED framework and (ii) the ultrasonic-image morphological changes in the carotid arterial walls by quantifying the wall parameters and the characterization of the wall tissue by adapting the ML/DL-based methods, both for the prediction of the severity of CVD risk. The proposed study analyzes the hypothesis that ML/DL can lead to an accurate and early diagnosis of the CVD/stroke risk in ED patients. Our finding suggests that the routine ED patient practice can be amended for ML/DL-based CVD/stroke risk assessment using carotid wall arterial imaging leading to fast, reliable, and accurate CVD/stroke risk stratification.

SUMMARY

We conclude that ML and DL methods are very powerful tools for the characterization of CVD/stroke in patients with varying ED conditions. We anticipate a rapid growth of these tools for early and better CVD/stroke risk management in ED patients.

Effect of new oral direct acting antiviral therapy on sexual function in male patients with hepatitis C virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem all over the world including Egypt. Chronic HCV infection is usually accompanied by decrease of libido and erectile dysfunction. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of new oral direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy on sexual function of male patients with HCV. This study was conducted on 200 male participants divided into two groups, first group included 100 male patients with HCV and the second group included 100 healthy age matched males as a control. Patients received DAA for three months and virological free status was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. All participants were subjected to full history taking, general examination and local genital examination, assessment of sexual function by a validated Arabic version of the international index of erectile function-5. Laboratory investigations included liver functions serum testosterone, free testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin and bioavailable testosterone. Results of this study showed that patients with HCV suffer from sexual dysfunction than controls that significantly improved after DAA therapy, and this is accompanied by increasing of bioavailable testosterone. It could be concluded that beside its effectiveness in treatment of HCV infection, DAA therapy can improve sexual function in male patients with HCV.

Association of Erectile Dysfunction with Incident Atrial Fibrillation: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

PURPOSE

Erectile dysfunction has been associated with atrial fibrillation in cross-sectional studies, but the association of erectile dysfunction with incident atrial fibrillation is less well established. This study aimed to determine whether erectile dysfunction is independently associated with incident atrial fibrillation after adjusting for conventional risk factors.

METHODS

We studied 1760 male participants (mean age 68 ± 9 years) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), who completed self-reported erectile dysfunction assessment at MESA exam 5 (2010-2012). Cumulative incidence of atrial fibrillation was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate the unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) using 3 models in which variables were added in a stepwise manner. In model 3, HR was adjusted for age, race and ethnicity, education, smoking status, alcohol use, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, diabetes, anti-hypertensive medication use, lipid-lowering medication use, total cholesterol, and estimated glomerular filtration rate.

RESULTS

During the median follow-up of 3.8 (interquartile range, 3.5-4.2) years, 94 cases of incident atrial fibrillation were observed. There was a significant difference between males with and without erectile dysfunction for cumulative incident atrial fibrillation rates at 4 years (9.6 vs 2.9%, P < .01). In the fully adjusted model, erectile dysfunction remained associated with incident atrial fibrillation (model 3; HR, 1.66; 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.72, P = .044).

CONCLUSIONS

Among older male participants in this prospective study, we found that self-reported erectile dysfunction was associated with incident atrial fibrillation.

Pharmacology and perspectives in erectile dysfunction in man

Penile erection is a perfect example of microcirculation modulated by psychological factors and hormonal status. It is the result of a complex neurovascular process that involves the integrative synchronized action of vascular endothelium; smooth muscle; and psychological, neuronal, and hormonal systems. Therefore, the fine coordination of these events is essential to maintain penile flaccidity or allow erection; an alteration of these events leads to erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is defined as the consistent or recurrent inability of a man to attain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual activity. A great boost to this research field was given by commercialization of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Indeed, following the discovery of sildenafil, research on the mechanisms underlying penile erection has had an enormous boost, and many preclinical and clinical papers have been published in the last 10 years. This review is structured to provide an overview of the mediators and peripheral mechanism(s) involved in penile function in men, the drugs used in therapy, and the future prospective in the management of ED. Indeed, 30% of patients affected by ED are classified as "nonresponders," and there is still an unmet need for therapeutic alternatives. A flowchart suggesting the guidelines for ED evaluation and the ED pharmacological treatment is also provided.

Erectile dysfunction links to cardiovascular disease-defining the clinical value

Despite many advances over the last few decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, with men afflicted at an earlier age than women. In a bid to reduce the global burden of morbidity and mortality due to CVD, emphasis has been placed on prevention, particularly on widespread promotion of ideal cardiovascular health behaviors and advancing strategies to identify and treat high-risk individuals who may benefit from aggressive preventive therapy. Erectile dysfunction is a highly prevalent condition that has been demonstrated to share the same risk factors as clinical CVD, and to have independent predictive value for future CVD events. Importantly, subclinical atherosclerosis appears to precede vascular ED by a decade or longer, with ED preceding clinical CVD such as myocardial infarction and stroke in temporal sequence by about 2-5 years. Crucially, since ED may represent the first presentation of otherwise "healthy" men to care providers, a clinical diagnosis of vascular ED may represent a unique opportunity to identify high risk individuals, intervene, and thus prevent progression to clinical CVD. This review summarizes up-to-date evidence of the relationship between ED and subclinical and clinical CVD, and details the position of current guidelines and clinical recommendations on the role of ED assessment in CVD prevention. Finally, this review proposes a clinical framework for the incorporation of ED into standard CVD risk assessment in middle-age men.