Correlates of erectile dysfunction in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

• Published in: Respirology (Carlton, Vic.) Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 248 - 253
• Main Authors: KARADAG, Fisun, OZCAN, Hatice, KARUL, Aslihan B., CEYLAN, Emel, CILDAG, Orhan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01-03-2007
• Subjects: Aged; Biomarkers - blood; COPD; Disease Progression; erectile dysfunction; Erectile Dysfunction - blood; Erectile Dysfunction - etiology; Erectile Dysfunction - psychology; Forced Expiratory Volume; Gonadal Steroid Hormones - blood; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - blood; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - complications; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - physiopathology; Quality of Life; Self Concept; Severity of Illness Index; sexual function; testosterone; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; tumour necrosis factor-alpha
• ISSN: 1323-7799; 1440-1843
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1843.2006.01042.x

Objective and background:  Erectile dysfunction (ED) has important negative effects on male quality of life and self‐esteem. The aim of this study was to acquire an insight into the sexual status of COPD patients.
Methods:  Ninety‐five male patients aged 48–75 years, with moderate‐to‐severe stable COPD, and 30 age‐matched subjects with normal pulmonary function were included. After clinical evaluation and measurement of serum sex hormones and TNF‐α concentration, subjects were asked to answer the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire as a method to diagnose and classify ED.
Results:  Varying degrees of ED were detected in 87% of COPD patients and 83% of controls. Although the total percentages of subjects with various severities of ED seemed similar, moderate and severe ED was 57% in COPD group and 20% in control subjects, suggesting a more severe course of ED in COPD patients. ED score of COPD patients was not correlated with age, smoking burden, duration of COPD, FEV1%, PaO2, PaCO2, serum dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulphate, testosterone or estradiol levels. When patients were subgrouped according to severity of ED, serum TNF‐α concentration, used as a marker of systemic inflammatory status in COPD, was significantly higher in patients with moderate‐to‐severe ED compared with mild‐moderate ED.
Conclusion:  The present study showed that ED is frequent and more severe in COPD patients than age‐matched controls. Chronic systemic inflammation is likely to play a role in ED in COPD; the role of TNF‐α should be evaluated further. Patients with COPD need comprehensive management including a detailed sexual evaluation.