Is there any relationship between serum levels of total bilirubin and the severity of erectile dysfunction?

Red blood cell distribution width values in erectile dysfunction

PURPOSE

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has increased prevalence by age and significantly affects the quality of life of men and their partners. To investigate the relationship between ED and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) values.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Between September 2019 and December 2019, a total of 192 individuals comprising those that were admitted to the urology outpatient clinic with ED complaints and healthy volunteers from among hospital staff were prospectively included in the study. The participants were divided into two groups according to the international erectile function index (IIEF-5) as ED group (n=148) and control group (n=44).

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, smoking status, presence of hypertension, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, total prostate-specific antigen and haematocrit values. Body mass index, fasting blood sugar, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were significantly higher in the ED group (28.5±27.4kg/m² vs 26.8±26.5kg/m², p=.021, 109.05±49.7mg/dl vs 93.39±10.2mg/dl, p<.001, 2.18±1.3 vs 1.74±0.3, p=.031, and 113.7±47 vs 92.4±24.1, p=.004, respectively). The mean RDW values were 13.7±1.1 in the ED group and 13±0.5 in the control group (p<.001). The multivariate analysis revealed PLR [1.02 OR (1-1.04), p=.007] and RDW [2.75 OR (1.56-4.85), p<.001] as independent predictors for an ED diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Based on the strong relationship between RDW and ED, we consider that RDW may be a new indicator in the diagnosis of ED.

Lipid abnormality, current diabetes and age affect erectile hardness: An analysis of data from complete medical checkups carried out at a single hospital

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the correlation between the Erection Hardness Score and both erectile function and metabolic and lifestyle factors.

METHODS

This study included 548 men who underwent a complete standard medical checkup at Yokohama Shin-midori General Hospital between 1 July 2016 and 31 August 2018, and answered the question about erectile hardness. The following variables were evaluated: age, erectile hardness on the Erection Hardness Score, erectile function on the Sexual Health Inventory for Men, current medical history (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease, stroke), metabolic risk factors (abdominal circumference, hyperglycemia, high blood pressure, lipid abnormality) and lifestyle factors. First, to examine the correlation between erectile hardness and erectile function, the mean Sexual Health Inventory for Men score by Erection Hardness Score grade was determined for each age group. Then, an analysis was carried out to examine the association between erectile hardness and age, current medical history, metabolic risk factors, and lifestyle factors.

RESULTS

In each age group, a lower Erection Hardness Score grade was associated with a lower mean Sexual Health Inventory for Men score. Lipid abnormality, diabetes and age were independent risk factors for decreased erectile hardness.

CONCLUSIONS

Erection Hardness Score is a useful tool that can easily and accurately assess erectile function in the settings of medical checkups and clinical practice. Diabetes and lipid abnormality affect erectile hardness.