Study of risk factors for erectile dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Correlation to serum testosterone level

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most frequent etiologies of erectile dysfunction (ED). Risk factors of ED in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2 DM) include patient age, disease duration, sedentary life and glycemic control. Subnormal testosterone concentrations contribute to ED as testosterone regulates
nearly every component of erectile function.

The aim of the work was to study the age of the patient, duration of diabetes mellitus, body mass index (BMI), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbAIc) and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (uACR) in type 2 male diabetic patients as risk factors for erectile dysfunction and their relation to serum testosterone level.

Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 100 male type 2 diabetics selected from inpatient department and out patient clinics of the Internal Medicine Department in Menoufia University Hospital. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: 50 patients with type 2 DM with erectile dysfunction and Group 2: 50 patientswith type 2 DMwithout erectile dysfunction. The study groups were subjected to thorough history with special emphasis on age of the patients, disease duration and investigations including testosterone level, glycosylated hemoglobin, and uACR. The patients answered the abridged 5-item version of the International Index of Eectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire.

Results: Total serum testosterone was significantly lower in diabetics with ED compared to those without ED. HbAIc, diabetes duration and uACR were independently negatively correlated with testosterone level.

Conclusion: The diabetes duration, glycemic control and uACR contribute to erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetics, and they were independently and negatively correlated with total serum testosterone level.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Erectile dysfunction, Serum testosterone