Men with COVID-19 six times more at risk of developing erectile dysfunction: Study

Written By : Dr Satabdi Saha |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2021-04-12T11:45:22+05:30 | Updated On 12 April 2021 2:46 PM IST

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

Erectile dysfunctionCOVID-19journal Andrology

Source : Andrology

Dr Satabdi Saha

Dr Satabdi Saha (BDS, MDS) is a practicing pediatric dentist with a keen interest in new medical researches and updates. She has completed her BDS from North Bengal Dental College ,Darjeeling. Then she went on to secure an ALL INDIA NEET PG rank and completed her MDS from the first dental college in the country – Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital. She is currently attached to The Marwari Relief Society Hospital as a consultant along with private practice of 2 years. She has published scientific papers in national and international journals. Her strong passion of sharing knowledge with the medical fraternity has motivated her to be a part of Medical Dialogues.

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751