Is tadalafil associated with decreased risk of major adverse cardiac events or venous thromboembolism in men with lower urinary tract symptoms?

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the association of tadalafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5I), with major adverse cardiac events (MACE) or venous thromboembolism (VTE) in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS).

Methods

Data was obtained from the TriNetX Research Network, ICD-10 codes were used to identify men with LUTS, MACE, and VTE. In addition, demographic characteristics and use of tadalafil or alpha-blocker was evaluated. Then, unbalanced and balanced association analyses was performed to assess the relation between tadalafil and/or alpha-blocker use with MACE/VTE.

Results

After participant selection, analysis included 821,592 men that did not use an alpha blocker or tadalafil, 5,004 men that used tadalafil but no alpha blocker, 327,482 men that used an alpha blocker but no tadalafil, and 6,603 men that used both an alpha blocker and tadalafil. On balanced analysis, tadalafil was independently associated with a decreased risk of MACE/VTE within a 3-year time period (OR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.49–0.70, p < 0.0001). Among men with a history of alpha blocker use, tadalafil use was also independently associated with a decreased risk of MACE or VTE, both before and after controlling for potentially confounding variables (OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.50–0.66; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

In our study, tadalafil was associated with a decreased risk of MACE/VTE in men with LUTS with and without a history of alpha blocker use. It is time to perform further long-term prospective randomized studies to further analyze the cardiovascular effects of PDE5Is as combination treatment with alpha blockers in the management of LUTS.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00345-022-04005-3.

Introduction

Cardiac disease and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) are the leading cause of mortality in the US, causing 1 in 4 deaths [1]. Risk factors for a MACE differ between men and women [2]. Men with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have an increased risk MACE, and the severity of the LUTS correlates to MACE risk [3, 4]. LUTS are a major cause of morbidity in men and are classified as storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms. LUTS may be caused by a variety of disease processes but the two most well-known are prostate enlargement and overactive bladder [5]. The pharmacological armamentarium for treating LUTS include six drug classes, used alone or in combination with each other: alpha-adrenoceptor blockers, 5alpha-reductase inhibitors, phytotherapeutics, antimuscarinics, beta3-adrenoceptor agonists, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5I) [6]. First line therapy typically involves prescription of an alpha-blocker; however, alpha blockers are associated with cardiac failure [7, 8]. Of these medications, PDE5I cause vasodilation, which may provide some cardio protection and decrease MACE.

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) is the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in smooth muscle [9]. PDE5Is are structurally similar to cGMP, and competitively bind to PDE5, therefore, increasing cGMP. Increased cGMP causes a decrease in smooth muscle calcium leading to smooth muscle relaxation and in the penis, increased blood flow and erection [9]. Vasodilators, such as hydralazine, nitrates and calcium channel blockers have been used as antihypertensives for decades; however, PDE5Is are not. Interestingly, PDE5I are used for cases of pulmonary hypertension. It is, therefore, possible that the vasodilatory effects of PDE5Is may be cardioprotective in men suffering from LUTS [10]. We hypothesize that men with LUTS taking PDE5Is will have decreased MACE or venous thromboembolism (VTE) events compared to men with LUTS not taking a PDE5I. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed a large sample of men with LUTS using data stored within the TriNetX Research Network, a federated database that complies electronic health record data from healthcare organizations (HCOs) around the United States.

Methods

Data source and study design

We accessed the TriNetX Research Network for analysis of electronic health record data from 42 HCOs that include information for 67,070,906 patients. TriNetX has received a waiver from the Institutional Review Board and all patient data is de-identified. Instances of medication data are recorded within the database from review of patient charts, orders, and prescriptions written. Diagnoses are categorized by International Classification of Disease, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Demographic data is obtained from patient chart review.

Cohorts

Diagnosis codes used to identify LUTS, MACE, and VTE are identified in Supplementary Table 1. To test the association between tadalafil and MACE or VTE, we analyzed four cohorts of males with a history of LUTS: (1) No history of tadalafil or alpha-blocker use; (2) History of tadalafil use, but no history of alpha-blocker use; (3) History of alpha-blocker use, but no history of tadalafil use; (4) History of both tadalafil and alpha-blocker use. For all analyses, we excluded females, men with a history of erectile dysfunction (ICD-10: N52), men with a recorded MACE or VTE event within 1 year prior to their LUTS diagnosis, or men a history of sildenafil or vardenafil usage, as neither is approved for LUTS management.

Statistical analysis

We assessed the association between tadalafil use and MACE/VTE within two groups: men with a history of alpha-blocker use and men without a history of alpha-blocker use. In each group, an analysis was performed comparing men with a history of tadalafil against men without a history of tadalafil use. We assessed a recorded MACE/VTE diagnosis (Supplementary Table 1) within 3 years of index event as our primary outcome. Index event was defined as the point at which a patient was diagnosed with LUTS and, when applicable, recorded to have used tadalafil and/or an alpha-blocker.

We measured association by odds ratios (ORs), which were determined both before and after controlling for confounding variables. Confounding variables were controlled for by 1:1 greedy nearest-neighbor propensity score matching, a statistical technique that uses logistic regression to generate similarly sized cohorts based on variables of interest [11, 12]. We performed comparisons through the TriNetX software, which is powered by R and python, and assessed the adequacy of propensity score match when standardized differences were less than 0.1. Sample sizes following propensity score matching approximated the smaller of the matched samples. A p value < 0.05 was consider statistically significant.

We controlled for the following established risk factors for MACE/VTE: dyslipidemia (E78), diabetes (E08–E13), hypertension (I10), obesity (E66), age, ethnicity, tobacco use (F17), sleep apnea (G47.33), and use of statins (CV350), beta-blockers (CV100), aspirin (1191), clopidogrel (32968), and ACE inhibitors (CV800). We additionally controlled for finasteride or dutasteride use.

Results

Among men with a history of LUTS and no history of MACE or VTE within 1 year of their LUTS diagnosis, we identified 821,592 patients who did not use an alpha blocker or tadalafil, 5,004 patients who used tadalafil but no alpha blocker, 327,482 patients who used an alpha blocker but no tadalafil, and 6,603 patients who used both an alpha blocker and tadalafil (Table 1). Within the group of men who did not have history of alpha blocker use, the group that used tadalafil was significantly more likely to have cardiovascular risk factors, including older age and higher rates of having or taking a medication for a lipid disorder, diabetes, hypertension, or ischemic heart disease. Among men with a history of taking an alpha blocker, those who used tadalafil were more likely to have or take a medication for lipid disorders or hypertension, but less likely to have ischemic heart disease or diabetes.

Table 1.

Baseline population characteristics

Variable	No alpha blocker or tadalafil	Tadalafil, no alpha blocker	p value	Alpha blocker, no tadalafil	Alpha blocker and tadalafil	p value
Number in cohort	821,592	5004	–	327,482	6,603	–
Age (years)	42.8 ± 25.7	59.6 ± 12.1	< 0.0001	63.8 ± 16.2	64.4 ± 10.5	0.0005
Race
White	67%	74%	< 0.0001	76%	78%	0.0293
Black	15%	13%	< 0.0001	10%	11%	0.0160
Asian	2%	1%	< 0.0001	2%	2%	0.0002
Native American	< 1%	< 1%	–	< 1%	< 1%	–
Unknown	15%	11%	< 0.0001	11%	10%	0.0026
Ethnicity
Hispanic	9%	5%	< 0.0001	6%	4%	< 0.0001
Not hispanic	52%	65%	< 0.0001	62%	70%	< 0.0001
Unknown	39%	31%	< 0.0001	31%	25%	< 0.0001
Lipid disorders (E78)	17%	44%	< 0.0001	39%	49%	< 0.0001
Diabetes Mellitus (E08–E13)	9%	17%	< 0.0001	21%	19%	0.0021
Essential hypertension (I10)	20%	43%	< 0.0001	46%	51%	< 0.0001
Overweight and Obesity (E66)	6%	14%	< 0.0001	13%	16%	< 0.0001
Ischemic heart diseases (I20–I25)	6%	11%	< 0.0001	18%	16%	< 0.0001
Cerebral infarction (I63)	0%	1%	0.0227	2%	1%	< 0.0001
Sleep apnea (G47.3)	5%	13%	< 0.0001	11%	16%	< 0.0001
Nicotine Use (Z87.891)	4%	8%	< 0.0001	13%	13%	0.2658
Antilipemic agents	11%	36%	< 0.0001	34%	47%	< 0.0001
Beta blockers	9%	24%	< 0.0001	29%	32%	< 0.0001
ACE inhibitors	8%	20%	< 0.0001	22%	26%	< 0.0001
Aspirin	9%	22%	< 0.0001	26%	31%	< 0.0001
Clopidogrel	1%	3%	< 0.0001	6%	5%	0.093
Finasteride or dutasteride	1%	5%	< 0.0001	9%	23%	< 0.0001

Prior to balancing for confounding variables through propensity score matching, tadalafil was not significantly associated with MACE/VTE in the group of men without a history of alpha blocker use (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 0.99–1.30; p = 0.0757, Table 2A). However, once adjusting for potential cardiovascular risk factors, tadalafil was independently associated with a decreased risk of MACE/VTE within a 3-year time period (OR = 0.59, 95%CI 0.49–0.70; p < 0.0001, Table 2A). Among men with a history of alpha blocker use, tadalafil use was also independently associated with a decreased risk of MACE or VTE, both before and after controlling for potentially confounding variables (OR = 0.57, 95%CI 0.50–0.66; p < 0.0001, Table 2B).

Table 2.

Odds ratios for MACE/VTE events among men with LUTS based on medication use

Comparison	Unbalanced OR (95% CI)	Balanced OR (95% CI)
(A) Tadalafil alone vs no tadalafil or alpha blockade	1.13 (0.99–1.30) p = 0.0757	0.59 (0.49–0.70) p < 0.0001
(B) Alpha blockade and tadalafil vs alpha blockade without tadalafil	0.56 (0.50–0.63), p < 0.0001	0.57 (0.50–0.66) p < 0.0001

Discussion

Though a well-known vasodilatory agent, it was unknown if the PDE5I tadalafil affects the incidence rate of MACE/VTEs in men with BPH. To answer this question, we conducted an analysis of the TriNetX Research Network, looking at men with a history of LUTS with a history of taking tadalafil, alpha blockers, combo tadalafil-alpha-blocker therapy, or neither. After controlling for potentially confounding variables during statistical analysis, such as comorbidities, age, ethnicity, medication use, tadalafil was shown to significantly decrease the incidence rate of MACE/VTEs in men with a history of LUTS without a history of alpha-blocker use (OR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.49–0.70; p < 0.0001, Table 2A). Patients with a history of alpha-blocker use had risk (OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.50–0.66, p < 0.0001, Table 2B) of experiencing a MACE/VTE before and after controlling for potentially confounding variables. Alpha-blocker use alone has been first line to treat LUTS; maybe tadalafil can be added as a first line combination therapy due to its efficacy for treating LUTS, decreased odds of MACE/VTE occurrence, and decreased side effect profile [13].

The International Prostate Symptom Score is used to describe the severity of LUTS and is often used to compare the efficacy of different medications used to treat LUTS. Tadalafil by itself has been shown to lower IPSS total score, voiding subscore, and storage subscore in men ≥ 40 years [14]. Several studies have shown that combination therapy of PDE5I’s and alpha blockers work better than either drug alone in managing LUTS due to BPH [15, 16]. The order of drug administration does not have any significant effects [17]. A meta-analysis suggests that sildenafil–tamsulosin is a reliable combination therapy for men with LUTS with/without ED [18]. Further studies are required to compare tadalafil vs sildenafil in combination with tamsulosin on LUTS improvement. First line therapy has traditionally been to use an alpha blocker, but that may not be enough [8]. It has been shown that men with LUTS due to BPH resistant to alpha blocker treatment had significant improvements in their IPSS scores when later treated with tadalafil, and vice versa [17, 19].

Tadalafil has been reported not to increase the risk of cardiovascular treatment-emergent adverse effects in men with LUTS [20]. Our study has shown that use of tadalafil is associated with decreased risk of MACE/VTE occurring in men with LUTS. Despite the well know potential erectile and cardiovascular benefits associated with tadalafil, clinicians should also take in consideration the potential side effects including mild-to-moderate headache, flushing, and dyspepsia [21]. In comparison, alpha-blocker nonsexual side effects include cardiovascular effects, such as postural hypotension, asthenia, and dizziness, as well as idiopathic floppy iris syndrome [8, 22]. Alpha blocker use has been shown to decrease relative risk of mortality from COVID-19, while further investigation on PDE5Is effect on COVID-19 outcomes is needed [23].

Additional benefits of adding tadalafil to standard LUTS treatment include its sexual benefits and recent decrease in price. Tadalafil is a known erectile disfunction drug, tolerated well by many [24]. PDE5I use has demonstrated a potential increase in sperm motility and morphology [25]. Of the popular PDE5Is, some patients prefer tadalafil over sildenafil for treatment of erectile dysfunction, possibly because of its longer duration of effect as it has the longest half-life (17.5 h.) of the commonly used PDE5Is tadalafil, sildenafil, and vardenafil [26, 27]. PDE5I use is not limited to LUTS and sexual dysfunction; in combination with other drugs, they are used successfully to treat pulmonary artery hypertension [28]. Tadalafil is now more accessible than ever; it became a generic drug when its patent expired in November 2017, leading to a 49% decrease in cost per unit [29]. The safety profiles of the generic drug and marketed drug are similar [30].

As with all studies, ours is not without its own strengths and limitations. Our analysis relies on data recorded in electronic medical records and is, therefore, prone to errors of incorrect coding or incomplete documentation. Furthermore, we did not have access to information regarding socioeconomic status, severity of LUTS, medication adherence, or lifestyle factors. We additionally had to refrain from excluding all patients without a follow-up visit, as this might have excluded patients with the outcome of interest. This study is strengthened by the large sample size, our ability to control for potentially confounding variables through propensity score matching, adjustment for immortality bias through precise time window specifications, and information regarding chronology of diagnoses.

In our study tadalafil was associated with decreased risk of MACE/VTE in men with LUTS with and without a history of alpha blocker use. Alpha blockers are the traditional first line drug in the treatment of LUTS; however, considering adding tadalafil for the treatment of LUTS might provide a cardiovascular benefit. It is time to perform long-term prospective randomized studies to further analyzing the cardiovascular effect PDE5Is as combination treatment in the management of LUTS.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Author contributions

SG: Manuscript writing/editing. RB-B: Manuscript writing/editing. SN: Data collection or management, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing. TAM: Protocol/project development, Manuscript writing/editing. RR: Protocol/project development.

Funding

This work was supported in part by National Institutes of Health Grant R01 DK130991 to RR.

Declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no competing interests to declare that are relevant to the content of this article.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was waived by the local Ethics Committee of University of Miami in view of the retrospective nature of the study and all the procedures being performed were part of the routine care.