Testosterone deficiency increases the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
To evaluate the effect of erectile dysfunction (ED), sexual frequency and hypogonadal symptoms on CVD risk.
A total of 395 hypogonadal men aged 45-74 years were surveyed using the Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male and the International Index of Erectile Function.
The 10-year CVD risk was measured with the Framingham Risk Score. Logistic regression was performed to obtain the odds ratios of sexual function and hypogonadal symptoms for a 10-year CVD risk ≥20% (high risk).
The mean age was 56. 1 ± 6. 7 years. The mean 10-year CVD risk of the whole cohort was 18. 1% ± 11. 4%, while 131 subjects (33. 2%) were classified as high risk. Logistic regression revealed that ED severity was associated with CVD risk [OR = 2. 37 (CI 1. 24-4. 51) for mild-to-moderate ED, OR = 4. 39 (1. 78-8. 43) for moderate ED and OR = 12. 81 (4. 65-26. 11) for severe ED]. Compared to sexual frequency <1 per month, sexual frequency ≥4 decreased the risk of high CVD risk [OR = 0. 35 (0. 23-0. 780)]. Loss of libido [OR = 2. 95 (1. 91-4. 12)] and less strong erection [OR = 3. 87 (CI 2. 11-4. 95)] increased the risk of high CVD risk. All remained significant after adjustment for age and testosterone.
ED, decreased sexual frequency and loss of libido predict a high 10-year CVD risk in hypogonadal men.
The aging male : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male. 2016 Jan 11 [Epub ahead of print]
Chen-Hsun Ho, Chia-Chang Wu, Kuan-Chou Chen, Fu-Shan Jaw, Hong-Jeng Yu, Shih-Ping Liu
a Department of Urology , Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital , New Taipei City , Taiwan . , a Department of Urology , Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital , New Taipei City , Taiwan . , a Department of Urology , Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital , New Taipei City , Taiwan . , c Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University , Taipei , Taiwan , and. , d Department of Urology , National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan. , d Department of Urology , National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine , Taipei , Taiwan.