Toward a new 'EPOCH': optimising treatment outcomes with phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors for erectile dysfunction
Abstract
Despite the marked adverse impacts of erectile dysfunction (ED) on quality of life and well-being, many patients (and/or their partners) do not seek medical attention for this problem, do not receive treatment or discontinue such treatment even when it has effectively restored erectile responses to sexual stimulation. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are considered first-line therapies for men with ED. To help physicians maximise the likelihood of treatment success with these agents, we conducted an English-language PubMed search of articles involving approved PDE5 inhibitors dating from 1 January 1998 (the year in which sildenafil citrate was introduced), through 31 August 2008. In addition to sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, search terms included 'adhere*', 'couple*', 'effect*', 'effic*', 'partner*', 'satisf*', 'succe*' and 'treatment outcome.' Based on our analysis, physician activities to promote favourable treatment outcomes may be captured under the mnemonic 'EPOCH': (i) Evaluating and educating patients and partners to ensure realistic expectations of therapy; (ii) Prescribing a treatment individualised to the couple's lifestyle needs and other preferences; (iii) Optimising treatment outcomes by scheduling follow-up visits with the patient to 'fine-tune' dosages and revisit key educational messages; (iv) Controlling comorbidities via lifestyle counselling, medications and/or referrals and (v) Helping patients and their partners to meet their health and…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: facing age-related comorbidities and drug–drug interactions
- The Efficacy of Flogofilm® in the Treatment of Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis as an Adjuvant to Antibiotic Therapy: A Randomized Prospective Trial
- Inhibition of growth and contraction in human prostate stromal cells by silencing of NUAK1 and -2, and by the presumed NUAK inhibitors HTH01-015 and WZ4003
- Effectiveness and Safety of a New Nutrient Fixed Combination Containing Pollen Extract Plus Teupolioside, in the Management of LUTS in Patients with Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy: A Pilot Study
- Extract from Cucurbita pepo improves BPH symptoms without affecting sexual function: a 24-month noninterventional study
- Aquablation vs. holmium laser enucleation of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: a 150-patients prospective comparative multicenter study
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.