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High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in male patients with acute stroke was associated with age but not to modifiable cardiovascular risk factors

Schjørring CB, Eddelien HS, Butt JH, Kruuse C

BMJ neurology open, 2024

287 participants · 2 citations

Abstract

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and stroke share common risk factors, and symptoms of ED often precede the development of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, little is known about how ED is associated with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in patients who had a stroke and if concomitant ED is a marker of more severe CVD.

Aims: We aimed to identify the prevalence of ED and CV risk factors in patients admitted with a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Further, we wanted to test if self-reported ED associated with presence of CV risk factors, and if patients with ED had increased stroke severity compared with patients without ED.

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of data retrieved in a cross-sectional survey from two non-comprehensive stroke units in Denmark. Multiple logistic regression adjusted for covariates was performed to investigate the association between CV risk factors and self-reported ED.

Results: We included 287 male patients of which 116 (40.4%) had self-reported ED. Advanced age was significantly associated with self-reported ED (reference ≤60 years: OR 3.93, 95% CI 1.84 to 8.37 for men 71-80 years and OR 4.61, 95% CI 1.92 to 11.08 for men >80 years). Self-reported ED was not significantly associated with CV risk factors or stroke severity.

Discussion: Four in 10 men with acute stroke or TIA reported to have ED prior to their stroke, and this was associated with age rather than CV risk factors. Hence, self-reported ED was not…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 287 participants or records.

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