Efficacy of angiotensin receptor blockers for erectile dysfunction in hypertensive men: A systematic review

Abstract

Abstract Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that affects many men, especially as they age, and is an indicator of an underlying health condition and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. ED also causes significant psychological distress due to stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem related to reduced sexual activity and satisfaction. A high incidence of ED is known to be associated with men with hypertension and diabetes. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are newer-generation antihypertensive drugs elucidating a beneficial effect on erectile function compared to older-generation drugs. This study aimed to systematically review the literature to investigate the efficacy of ARBs compared to other classes of antihypertensive drugs in improving ED-related outcomes. A literature search was carried out in Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library databases, and other relevant sources to select clinical studies that compared the efficacy of ARBs with other antihypertensive drugs in men with concomitant hypertension and ED. Overall, twelve clinical studies comprising 11,672 hypertensive patients with ED were included. Analyses of the outcomes show that ARBs significantly reduce arterial pressure and improve erectile function, frequency of sexual activity, and overall satisfaction in patients. ARBs depress the process of oxidative stress and thus increase sexual desire among the patients with ED patients. Both monotherapy and combination therapies are beneficial for improving erectile function and compliance among patients.