α-Blocker Use Is Associated With Decreased Risk of Sexual Dysfunction
Received 18 August 2008; accepted 18 December 2008. published online 11 May 2009.
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Jennifer L. St. Sauver, Ajay Nehra, Debra J. Jacobson, Michaela E. McGree, Steven J. Jacobsen
Urology
July 2009 (Vol. 74, Issue 1, Pages 87-88) Full Text |
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To examine the association between α-blocker use and sexual dysfunction among men participating in a population-based cohort of men residing in Olmsted County, MN. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men have previously been associated with sexual dysfunction. The use of α-adrenergic receptor blocking agents results in an improvement in LUTS for many men. If sexual dysfunction and LUTS share a common etiology, α-blocker use might also be associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction.
Methods
White men, aged 40-79 years, were randomly selected in 1990 and assessed for α-blocker use and LUTS severity. Sexual function was assessed using the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory. Men who used α-blockers before any sexual dysfunction were considered “exposed.” Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated separately for each sexual function domain using Cox proportional hazard models.
Results
Of the 1724 men with a regular sexual partner included in the present study (mean age 57.74 years), 263 (15.3%) reported α-blocker use. α-Blocker use was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction across all domains for men ≥50 years old (age-adjusted hazard ratio 0.53-0.69). A decreased risk of erectile dysfunction and low libido remained significant only among those using α-blockers who also experienced an improvement in LUTS (P = .01).
Conclusions
The use of α-blockers for LUTS was associated with a decreased risk of sexual dysfunction. Improvement in sexual function correlated with the improvement in LUTS more strongly among those using α-blockers.
aDepartment of Urology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
bDepartment of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
cDivision of Biostatistics, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
dDivision of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota
eSouthern California Permanente Medical Group, Pasadena, California
Reprint requests: Ajay Nehra, M.D., Department of Urology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905
This project was supported by research grants from the Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health (grants DK58859, AR30582, and 1Ul1 RR024150-01), and Merck Research Laboratories.
ABSTRACT