Metrics details. Erectile dysfunction is prevalent in men over 40 years, affecting their quality of life and that of their partners. The aims of this study were:. This is a double blind randomised controlled trial of 40 mg simvastatin or placebo given once daily for six months to men over forty years with untreated erectile dysfunction, who were not at high cardiovascular risk and were not on anti-hypertensive or lipid-lowering medication. Data were collected at two points over 30 weeks. Regression analysis showed that patients in the placebo group experienced a significantly reduced feeling of Control over erectile dysfunction than those in the statin group.
Those in the placebo group had significantly lower Emotional response than those in the statin group at the close of trial, but there was no significant treatment effect on Intimacy. Secondary analysis showed a significant improvement in sexual health related quality of life, specifically in relation to perception of control and emotional health in men with untreated erectile dysfunction given 40 mg simvastatin for six months.
Peer Review reports. Erectile dysfunction ED is the consistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Although ED affects sexual and mental health [ 1 , 2 ], the rates of consultation for ED remain low [ 3 , 4 ] and not all patients respond to Sildenafil and other phosphodiesterase inhibitors [ 5 ].
We reported the results of a randomised controlled trial RCT evaluating the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of simvastatin therapy in men with ED in men with untreated ED, but without significant cardiovascular risk factors [ 6 ]. The lipid lowering drug simvastatin was chosen for this study because ED shares risk factors with cardiovascular disease CVD [ 7 — 11 ].
It is associated with high total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol [ 12 — 14 ] and endothelial dysfunction. There is a consensus that ED is either a predictor of future CVD or an early marker of silent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease [ 9 , 10 ]. Small scale studies have indicated that atorvastatin can reduce ED and improve sexual function [ 12 , 15 ] but to date, there is no evidence to suggest that statins improve sexual health related quality of life in men with untreated ED.
