Disfunción eréctil en pacientes con dolor crónico tratados con opioides / Erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic pain treated with opioids

Introducción y objetivo: El dolor crónico asocia comorbilidades que condicionan la calidad de vida de los pacientes y que afectan, entre otros, a su esfera sexual. Dentro de los efectos secundarios de los analgésicos opioides destaca la disfunción eréctil (DE) debida en parte a la inhibición del eje gonadal-hipofisario-hipotalámico y al descenso de los niveles de testosterona. Evaluar la DE y la efectividad de su tratamiento en varones con dolor crónico tratados a largo plazo con opioides es el objetivo. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo de 3 años de duración, donde se evalúa la intensidad del dolor (escala visual analógica, 0-10cm), función eréctil (IIEF-FE, rango 1-30 puntos), calidad de vida (EVA-EQ, 0-100mm), calidad de vida sexual (mSLQ-QOL, 0-100 puntos), ansiedad/depresión (HAD, 0-21 puntos) y niveles de testosterona en pacientes que refirieron disfunción sexual (De y/o disminución de la libido). Se realizó un seguimiento de 6 meses, a cada paciente incluido, tras el tratamiento habitual en la Unidad de Andrología, valorando su respuesta con la escala de Impresión Clínica Global del Cambio (ICG-C). El estudio fue aprobado por el Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica y los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente con GraphPad Prism 5. Resultados: Se encontró una prevalencia de DE en el 27,6% (n=105; 57±12,2 años; dosis media equivalente de morfina de 107,1±107,9mg/día; 84,3% fármacos coadyuvantes). Un 42% presentó mejoría significativa a los 6 meses tras ser tratados con iPDE5 (48,5%) y/o con testosterona en gel (81,8%), con resolución de la DE en el 31% (p=0,000). Se observó una correlación positiva entre el IIEF y una mejora significativa de su calidad de vida sexual (55,5±25,7 puntos; p=0,000) y de su ansiedad (7,4±4,3 puntos; p=0,048). No se observaron cambios significativos en los niveles de testosterona, en la intensidad del dolor o calidad de vida, que se mantuvieron moderados. Conclusiones: La función eréctil y la calidad de vida sexual en pacientes tratados crónicamente con opioides mejoran, junto con la ansiedad, tras su tratamiento andrológico. El abordaje de los pacientes con dolor debe incluir la historia clínica sexual por el importante impacto emocional que supone para el paciente, por el impacto sobre su calidad de vida global y por su buena respuesta clínica al tratamiento interdisciplinar (AU)

Introduction and objective: Chronic pain is associated with comorbidities that have an impact on the quality of life of patients and, among others, affect their sexual functioning. One of the most relevant side effects of opioid analgesics is erectile dysfunction (ED), due in part to the inhibition of the gonadal-pituitary-hypothalamic axis and the decline in testosterone levels. To evaluate ED and effectiveness of treatment in men with chronic pain treated with long-term opioids. Material and methods: Prospective observational study lasting 3 years, where the intensity of pain (visual analogue scale, 0-10cm), erectile function (IIEF-EF, range 1-30 points), quality of life (EQ-VAS, 0-100mm), quality of sexual life (MSLQ-QOL, 0-100 points), anxiety/depression (HAD, 0-21 points) and testosterone levels, was assessed in patients who reported sexual dysfunction (ED or libido modification). A 6-month follow-up was applied to each patient after administering the usual treatment in the Andrology Unit. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee and data were statistically analyzed with the GraphPad Prism 5 software. Results: ED was observed in 27.6% of patients (n=105, 57±12.2 years, mean dose of morphine equivalent=107.1±107.9mg/day, 84.3% adjuvant analgesics). After 6 months, 42% of patients showed a significant improvement after being treated with iPDE5 (48.5%) and/or testosterone gel (81.8%), with a resolution rate of 31% (p=0.000). A positive correlation was observed between the improvement of IIEF and quality of sexual life (55.5±25.7 points, p=0.000), as well as anxiety (7.4±4.3 points, p=0.048). No significant changes were observed in the levels of testosterone, in the levels of pain nor in the quality of life, which remained moderate. Conclusions: Erectile function and quality of sexual life, as well as anxiety, improved in patients treated chronically with opioids after administering andrological treatment. The management of patients with pain should include a review of their sexual health history given the significant emotional impact posed to the patient, the impact on their overall quality of life and its good clinical response to an interdisciplinary treatment (AU)

Erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic pain treated with opioids. / Disfunción eréctil en pacientes con dolor crónico tratados con opioides.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic pain is associated with comorbidities that have an impact on the quality of life of patients and, among others, affect their sexual functioning. One of the most relevant side effects of opioid analgesics is erectile dysfunction (ED), due in part to the inhibition of the gonadal-pituitary-hypothalamic axis and the decline in testosterone levels. To evaluate ED and effectiveness of treatment in men with chronic pain treated with long-term opioids. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study lasting 3 years, where the intensity of pain (visual analogue scale, 0-10cm), erectile function (IIEF-EF, range 1-30 points), quality of life (EQ-VAS, 0-100mm), quality of sexual life (MSLQ-QOL, 0-100 points), anxiety/depression (HAD, 0-21 points) and testosterone levels, was assessed in patients who reported sexual dysfunction (ED or libido modification). A 6-month follow-up was applied to each patient after administering the usual treatment in the Andrology Unit. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee and data were statistically analyzed with the GraphPad Prism 5 software. RESULTS: ED was observed in 27.6% of patients (n=105, 57±12.2 years, mean dose of morphine equivalent=107.1±107.9mg/day, 84.3% adjuvant analgesics). After 6 months, 42% of patients showed a significant improvement after being treated with iPDE5 (48.5%) and/or testosterone gel (81.8%), with a resolution rate of 31% (p=0.000). A positive correlation was observed between the improvement of IIEF and quality of sexual life (55.5±25.7 points, p=0.000), as well as anxiety (7.4±4.3 points, p=0.048). No significant changes were observed in the levels of testosterone, in the levels of pain nor in the quality of life, which remained moderate. CONCLUSIONS: Erectile function and quality of sexual life, as well as anxiety, improved in patients treated chronically with opioids after administering andrological treatment. The management of patients with pain should include a review of their sexual health history given the significant emotional impact posed to the patient, the impact on their overall quality of life and its good clinical response to an interdisciplinary treatment.

The relationship of salivary testosterone and male sexual dysfunction in opioid-associated androgen deficiency (OPIAD).

BACKGROUND: Opioids are an effective treatment for chronic non-malignant pain (CNP). Long-term use risks and side effects such as opioid-induced androgen deficiency (OPIAD) exist. This could be measured by saliva testosterone (Sal-T). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate OPIAD in long-term opioid use in CNP patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study included CNP male outpatients under opioid treatment. Total-Testosterone (Total-T), Free-Testosterone (Free-T), Bio-Testosterone (Bio-T) and Sal-T were measured. Correlations were calculated by Spearman's rho (SPSS 20). RESULTS: From 2012 to 2014, 134 from 249 (54%) consecutive male outpatients reported erectile dysfunction (ED), 37% of them related to opioids and 19% evidenced OPIAD. A total of 120 subjects (94 cases and 26 matched-controls) were included. A significantly lower luteinizing hormone, Total-T and Free-T were found, as well as, a significant correlation between Sal-T and Total-T (r = 0.234, p = 0.039), Bio-T (r = 0.241, p = 0.039), IIEF (r = 0.363, p = 0.003) and HAD-anxiety (r = -0.414, p = 0.012) in OPIAD patients. Sal-T levels were significantly lower in patients with severe-moderate ED versus mild ED (p = 0.045) and in patients with severe ED versus moderate-mild ED (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the high prevalence of ED in long-term use of opioids, part of this is associated to OPIAD, which can be tested by Sal-T as a non-invasive approach.