PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 517 - 2 Dec 2006

Long-term sildenafil extendsbenefits in ED

The long-term use of sildenafil therapy for 9 monthsfollowing a 12-week clinical trial results in "sustainedimprovements in confidence and self-esteem", as well as"almost normal" function in patients with erectiledysfunction (ED), according to the results of anextension study.

Researchers evaluated the effect of sildenafil 50mgcompared with placebo on confidence and self-esteemover a 36-week extension period, following a 12-weektrial conducted in 204 men with ED (including 108 whopreviously received placebo and 96 who previouslyreceived sildenafil).

In patients treated with placebo in the clinical trial,self-esteem and confidence improved significantly atweeks 14 and 36 during the extension study: there hadbeen no improvement in these domains during the12-week clinical trial. Patients who received sildenafilduring the clinical trial "maintained the improvementsthat they had achieved" during the extension period,comment the researchers. The component scoresachieved by men in both treatment groups improved toalmost normal levels, similar to those seen in menwithout ED. The findings were similar for improvementsin relationship satisfaction and ED, note the researchers."Improvements in EF [erectile function] correlatedpositively with improvements in psychosocial measuresof quality of life", they conclude.* The study was supported by Pfizer, Inc., with which the researcherswere affiliated.

Althof SE, et al. Impact of erectile dysfunction on confidence, self-esteem andrelationship satisfaction after 9 months of sildenafil citrate treatment. Journal ofUrology 176: 2132-2137, No. 5, Nov 2006 801054009

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 2 Dec 2006 No. 5171173-5503/10/0517-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved