Objective: To report a comprehensive retrospective analysis of the favourable effects of doxazosin extended-release (XL) and doxazosin standard on the sexual health of patients with comorbid benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and erectile dysfunction (ED), augmenting a previous study of 680 patients with symptomatic BPH.
Patients and methods: Men with BPH and aged 50-80 years participated in a randomized, double- blind, double-dummy, parallel-group, multicentre trial, completing a 2-week, single-blind, placebo run-in period before receiving doxazosin XL 4 or 8 mg once daily or doxazosin standard 1-8 mg once daily for 13 weeks. Baseline sexual function and changes from baseline after treatment with doxazosin were evaluated from responses of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire (with dysfunction defined as a score of < or = 3 for any question) and the five domains for erectile function (intercourse satisfaction, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall sexual satisfaction).
Results: Of 680 patients randomized into the trial, 237 (35%) had ED at baseline; in these patients there were statistically and clinically significant improvements in each of the five IIEF domains with XL and standard doxazosin (P < or = 0.0019), with the range of improvement being from 13% to 41%. There were no significant differences between treatment groups. Doxazosin XL consistently improved sexual function, as assessed by the individual questions of the IIEF questionnaire. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for any sexual function question analysed.
Conclusion: Doxazosin XL and standard improved sexual function in men with concomitant BPH and ED at baseline. This may represent an action independent of relieving lower urinary tract symptoms, because the beneficial effect of doxazosin was reported in patients with no symptomatic BPH.