Nelson Vergel
Founder, ExcelMale.com
In a preliminary study of men with type 2 diabetes, the use of phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitors was associated with reduced all-cause mortality, even in men who had a previous myocardial infarction (MI), during a 5-year follow-up.
A second study, with a few of the same coauthors, came up with similar results in a different population of men with type 2 diabetes, some of whom were also receiving testosterone therapy. This showed that PDE5 inhibitors and testosterone — in a population appropriately receiving the male hormone due to diagnosed hypogonadism — both independently reduce mortality.
The two studies were presented during a late-breaking poster session at the recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2015 Scientific Sessions.
The findings appear contrary to what might be expected, coauthor of both studies, Dr Adrian H Heald (University of Manchester, United Kingdom), told Medscape Medical News.
Because "erectile dysfunction is a marker of endothelial dysfunction — small-vessel dysfunction — and therefore, if anything, [men with erectile dysfunction] would be more likely to have a [potentially fatal] myocardial infarction, and the fact that we pushed [the risk of mortality] the other way is, I think, a pretty significant finding," he said.
However, this line of research has important caveats, Dr Simon G Anderson (University of Manchester), lead author of the first study (which did not involve testosterone), cautioned. For example, the researchers lacked information about other relevant factors that could contribute to longevity, such as frequency of sexual activity or lack of depression.
PDE5 Inhibitors Appear to Up Survival in Diabetic Men
A second study, with a few of the same coauthors, came up with similar results in a different population of men with type 2 diabetes, some of whom were also receiving testosterone therapy. This showed that PDE5 inhibitors and testosterone — in a population appropriately receiving the male hormone due to diagnosed hypogonadism — both independently reduce mortality.
The two studies were presented during a late-breaking poster session at the recent American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2015 Scientific Sessions.
The findings appear contrary to what might be expected, coauthor of both studies, Dr Adrian H Heald (University of Manchester, United Kingdom), told Medscape Medical News.
Because "erectile dysfunction is a marker of endothelial dysfunction — small-vessel dysfunction — and therefore, if anything, [men with erectile dysfunction] would be more likely to have a [potentially fatal] myocardial infarction, and the fact that we pushed [the risk of mortality] the other way is, I think, a pretty significant finding," he said.
However, this line of research has important caveats, Dr Simon G Anderson (University of Manchester), lead author of the first study (which did not involve testosterone), cautioned. For example, the researchers lacked information about other relevant factors that could contribute to longevity, such as frequency of sexual activity or lack of depression.
PDE5 Inhibitors Appear to Up Survival in Diabetic Men
