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Cardiovascular outcomes among sildenafil users: results of the International Men's Health Study

M A Mittleman1, M Maclure, M A Lewis

  • 1Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Unit, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

International Journal of Clinical Practice
|February 12, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) prescribed sildenafil had low rates of serious cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke) and mortality. These findings suggest ED and cardiovascular disease share risk factors.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Urology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) frequently coexist and share common risk factors.
  • Sildenafil is a common treatment for ED.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and all-cause mortality in men with ED treated with sildenafil.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective, observational cohort study (International Men's Health Study) of 3813 men with ED prescribed sildenafil.
  • Data collected via baseline, follow-up, and post-event questionnaires on demographics, CVD risk factors, ED, and sildenafil use.

Main Results:

  • Thirty-five CVD events occurred in 30 patients.
  • Incidence rates per 100 patient-years: 0.4% for all-cause mortality, 0.6% for myocardial infarction (MI), and 0.1% for stroke.
  • Of six men reporting sildenafil use before a nonfatal CVD event, two reported use within 24 hours.

Conclusions:

  • The study supports the established comorbidity of ED and CVD.
  • Shared risk factors likely contribute to the association between ED and cardiovascular disease.
Abstract

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