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. 2022 Oct;54(9):e14504.
doi: 10.1111/and.14504. Epub 2022 Jul 11.

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and erectile dysfunction: An underdiagnosed link? A prospective cross-sectional study

Elena Cantone  1   2 , Matteo Massanova  3 , Felice Crocetto  4 , Biagio Barone  4 , Fabio Esposito  4 , Davide Arcaniolo  5 , Fabrizio Corlianò  6 , Luigi Romano  6 , Gaetano Motta  7 , Antonio Celia  8
Affiliations

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnoea and erectile dysfunction: An underdiagnosed link? A prospective cross-sectional study

Elena Cantone et al. Andrologia. 2022 Oct.

Abstract

This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of erectile dysfunction in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea. We enrolled 133 male patients with suspected obstructive sleep apnoea. Ear, nose and throat evaluation, laboratory tests, body mass index, Epworth sleepiness scale, 5-international index of erectile function, overnight ambulatory polygraphy and drug-induced sleep endoscopy patterns were assessed. Eighty patients reported obstructive sleep apnoea. 60% (n = 48) reported erectile dysfunction. Statistically significant correlations were found between 5-International Index of Erectile Function and age, hypertension, diabetes, Epworth sleepiness scale, apnoea-hypopnea index score, O2 saturation-nadir, and oxygen desaturation index. Age, diabetes and O2 saturation-nadir were independent predictors of erectile function. Epworth sleepiness scale, apnoea-hypopnea index score, O2 saturation-nadir, oxygen desaturation index and albumin were higher compared to patients without erectile dysfunction. No statistically significant differences were reported for drug-induced sleep endoscopy patterns and erectile dysfunction. Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea were at significant risk of having erectile dysfunction. Males with obstructive sleep apnoea should be investigated for erectile dysfunction.

Keywords: ED; Erectile dysfunction; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnoea; SatO2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Patients included in the study. COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ED, Erectile dysfunction; OSA, obstructive sleep apnoea
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Scatter plots of IIEF‐5 and OSA parameters obtained via linear regression. AHI/h and IIEF‐5) r 2 = 0.218, p = 0.001; ESS and IIEF‐5) r 2 = 0.103, p = 0.026; ODI and IIEF‐5) r 2 = 0.200, p = 0.001; Sat02‐nadir (%) and IIEF‐5) r 2 = 0.218, p = 0.001; r 2 = 0.200, p = 0.001. ESS, Epworth Sleepiness Scale; ODI, Oxygen Desaturation Index; OSA, obstructive sleep apnoea
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