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Screening men with erectile dysfunction may detect diabetes
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Men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes compared with those without erectile dysfunction, according to recent study findings published in Annals of Family Medicine.
“Erectile dysfunction can act as an important tool to trigger both patients and physicians to screen for diabetes,” the researchers wrote. “Although we observed significant associations between undiagnosed diabetes and more traditional cardiovascular risk factors, erectile dysfunction is unique because of its common symptomatology and available treatment options. As such, it can act as a useful incentive for men to access the health care system and be readily screened.”
Sean C. Skeldon, MD, of the University of British Columbia Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, and colleagues evaluated data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2004 on men aged at least 20 years to determine whether erectile dysfunction is related to undiagnosed cardiometabolic risk factors.
The researchers evaluated blood pressure samples from 2,224 participants for undiagnosed hypertension, cholesterol samples from 2,287 participants for undiagnosed hypercholesterolemia and fasting glucose samples from 1,417 participants for undiagnosed diabetes.
Through evaluation of BP samples, the researchers found that more participants with erectile dysfunction had undiagnosed hypertension (19.4%) compared with those without erectile dysfunction (9.3%). Those with erectile dysfunction had greater odds of having undiagnosed hypertension before statistical adjustment (OR = 2.35; 95% CI, 1.78-3.11); however, after adjustment for potential confounders, the association was no longer significant (OR = 1.27; 95% CI, 0.87-1.85).
No significant association was found between erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed hypercholesterolemia.
Participants with available fasting glucose samples who had erectile dysfunction (11.5%) were more likely to have undiagnosed diabetes compared with those without erectile dysfunction (2.8%); this was true in both the unadjusted (OR = 4.58; 95% CI, 2.54-8.24) and adjusted analyses (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.37).
“In conclusion, men with erectile dysfunction, particularly those who are middle-aged, should be made aware of their potential for having underlying diabetes and be encouraged to obtain screening,” the researchers wrote. “In the same vein, physicians should be vigilant in obtaining sexual histories in middle-aged men and screening those with erectile dysfunction for diabetes.” – by Amber Cox
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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