title: Exercise training improves erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with metabolic syndrome on phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about 50% of males aged 40-70 years old. ED shares with atherosclerotic disease several common risk factors; therefore, it may be considered a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. Since phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are well known pharmacologic agents capable of significant improvement in ED, we designed this study to evaluate whether exercise training is of added value in patients with ED who are already on PDE-5 inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 20 male patients affected by ED with metabolic syndrome. At baseline, all patients underwent Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) test. After the initial evaluation, patients were subdivided into two groups: tadalafil group (group T, n = 10), who were maintained only on tadalafil therapy, and a tadalafil/exercise training group (T/E group, n = 10) who continued tadalafil but in addition underwent a2-month structured exercise training program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Basal anthropometric characteristics of study population showed no significant differences. Although both-groups showed at 2 months an improvement of the IIEF score, this was more evident in the T/E group (T group: 11.2 vs 14.2, P = 0.02; T/E group: 10.8 vs 20.1, P < 0.001). There was an improvement of oxygen consumption at peak exercise (VO(2peak)) only in the T/E group patients (T group: 13.63 +/- 2.03 vs 14.24 +/- 2.98 mL/kg/min; P = 0.521; T/E group: 13.41 +/- 2.97 vs 16.58 +/- 3.17 mL/kg/min; P = 0.006). A significant correlation was found between the changes in VO(2peak) and the modifications in IIEF score (r = 0.575; P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise training in ED patients treated with PDE-5 inhibitors is of added value since further improves ED, as evaluated by IIEF score, and increases functional capacity.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maresca
authors.forename: Mariantonietta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torella
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lucci
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albano
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Del Forno
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giallauria
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vigorito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002243:Carbolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068581:Tadalafil; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D000068581:Tadalafil