Oral drug treatments in patients with erectile dysfunction and multiple comorbidities: a retrospective observational study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with demographic/clinical characteristics and drug selection in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). The prevalence of ED is increasing worldwide. Studies have shown that ED is associated with age, lifestyle and comorbidities. However, the factors associated with patient characteristics as well as drug selection are incompletely understood. SETTING: A tertiary medical centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 219 patients (range 23–80 years) who had received phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors as ED treatment were evaluated. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adult patients aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with ED, and prescribed with sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients diagnosed with ED but who did not receive any PDE-5 inhibitor, or those with missing data. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Factors associated with demographic and clinical characteristics as well as drug selection were assessed. RESULTS: Ischaemic heart disease (p=0.025), benign prostatic hyperplasia (p<0.001), obesity (p=0.005), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) (p=0.006) and α-blockers (p<0.001) were significantly associated with elderly patients with ED. Additionally, LUTS (p=0.038) and α-blockers (p=0.008) were significantly associated with the selection of PDE-5 inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that elderly patients with ED were significantly associated with comorbidities and α-blockers, whereas LUTS and α blockers were associated with drug selection.