Evidence Hub

Daily tadalafil administration improves cardiac autonomic regulation in men with non-organic erectile dysfunction: a prospective heart rate variability study

G. Yildiz, T. Kunak

Sexual Medicine, 2026

82 participants

Abstract

Abstract Background Non-organic ED patients have cardiac autonomic dysfunction measurable by heart rate variability (HRV). Tadalafil reduces cardiovascular mortality, but exact mechanisms remain unclear. Aim To evaluate daily tadalafil effects on cardiac autonomic regulation in non-organic ED and identify clinical predictors of HRV response. Methods In this prospective study, 82 men with non-organic ED (mean age 46.8 ± 5.0 years) received tadalafil 5-10 mg daily. Assessment included International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function (IIEF-EF), echocardiography, laboratory tests, and 24-hour Holter ECG. HRV was analyzed via time-domain (standard deviation of NN intervals [SDNN], root mean square of successive differences [RMSSD]) and frequency-domain (low-frequency power [LF], high-frequency power [HF], LF/HF ratio) parameters. Post-treatment recordings were blindly evaluated. Early response to tadalafil was defined as achievement in the severity-adjusted Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) in IIEF-EF or final IIEF-EF score ≥26. Outcomes Primary: ΔSDNN. Secondary: ΔHF power, ΔLF/HF ratio. Results IIEF-EF improved significantly (15 to 23, P .05), suggesting autonomic modulation independent of erectile response. Multivariable regression: diabetes negatively predicted SDNN improvement; higher testosterone, higher baseline IIEF-EF score, and lower BMI predicted greater HF enhancement. Only 1.1% of patients discontinued the treatment (due to dyspepsia). Clinical…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 82 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

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.

Open this study Sign up free