There is preliminary evidence in a real-life population of erectile dysfunction (ED) as a risk factor of developing COVID‐19 and possibly occurring as a consequence of COVID‐19. The study findings have been put forth in Andrology.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), as the hallmark of endothelial dysfunction, could be a short‐ or long‐term complication of COVID‐19. Additionally, being ED a clinical marker and predictor of non‐communicable chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular, subjects with ED could potentially have a higher risk of contracting COVID‐19.
Researchers undertook the recent study to investigate the prevalence of ED among subjects with a reported diagnosis of COVID‐19 and to measure the association of COVID‐19 and ED.
For the study design, the team reviewed data from the Sex@COVID online survey (performed between April 7 and May 4, 2020, in Italy) to retrieve a sample of Italian male sexually active subjects with reported SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. A matching sample of COVID‐19‐negative male sexually active subjects was also retrieved using propensity score matching in a 3:1 ratio. The survey used different standardized psychometric tools to measure effects of lockdown and social distancing on the intrapsychic, relational, and sexual health of Italian subjects.
Data analysis revealed the following results-
One hundred subjects were included in the analysis (25 COVID‐positive; 75 COVID‐negative).
The prevalence of ED, measured with the Sexual Health Inventory for Men, was significantly higher in the COVID+ group (28% vs. 9.33%; p = 0.027).
Logistic regression models confirmed a significant effect of COVID‐19 on the development of ED, independently of other variables affecting erectile function, such as psychological status, age, and BMI [OR 5.66, 95% CI: 1.50–24.01].
Likewise, subjects with ED were more likely to have COVID‐19, once corrected for age and BMI [OR 5.27, 95% CI: 1.49–20.09].
For full article follow the link: https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13003
Primary source: Andrology