An Updated Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of PDE‐5 Inhibitors Combined With Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Abstract
Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction, and oral phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) are the first‐line treatment for the disease. Some patients with ED do not accept or benefit from conventional therapy with PDE5Is. The purpose of this study was to analyze the efficacy and safety of PDE5 inhibitors combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of ED. Methods We looked for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database, VIP Database, Chinese Medical Association, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, until September 14, 2024. The Cochrane Reviewer’s Handbook and Jadad scale was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. The STATA 18.0 software was used to analyze all the data in this study. Results We selected 19 high‐quality RCTs that included 1715 patients. Meta‐analysis suggested that compared with PDE5Is alone, the combination of PDE5Is with TCM can significantly improve the erectile function index, serum testosterone level, erectile hardness grade, and total effective rate of treatment for ED patients. Also, it can reduce the ED‐related discomforts without increasing adverse reactions. Additionally, the results of the publication bias test showed significant bias. Conclusions Compared with PDE5Is alone, the combined use of PDE5Is and TCM has a significant effect and is generally well tolerated. It can dramatically improve…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a systematic review, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 1,715 participants or records.
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