Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy for diabetic men with erectile dysfunction: A systematic scoping review.

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common complication in men with diabetes mellitus (DM). Low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT) offers a promising nonsurgical treatment option for ED. A systematic scoping review investigating the outcomes of Li-ESWT in diabetic men with ED has not yet been performed. To systematically review animal and clinical studies related to the use of Li-ESWT for treatment of DM-related ED. PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched, unrestricted by dates or study design. We included qualitative studies, quantitative studies, primary research studies, meta-analyses, and research letters written in English. Full text reviewing was completed in all animal and human studies discussing Li-ESWT for the treatment of ED in subjects with DM. Data extracted included the journal citation, publication year, country of origin, study design, and a summary of the pertinent findings. Our search yielded nine clinical studies and 10 animal studies. The results of the clinical studies suggest that Li-ESWT is a safe and effective treatment in men with well-controlled DM and moderate or better ED. However, the benefit is less durable in diabetic men than nondiabetic men. The results of the animal studies suggest that Li-ESWT can significantly improve erectile function in diabetic rat models with ED. The examined studies present encouraging results for the use of Li-ESWT to treat diabetic men with ED. Future studies, particularly robust randomized controlled trials, are necessary to confirm these findings and provide long-term follow-up.