Disease activity and erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients with ulcerative colitis

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe association between disease activity and erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is inconsistent, although IBD, including ulcerative colitis (UC), is reported as a risk factor for ED.AimThe purpose of this study was to explore this association in Japanese patients with UC.MethodsIn this study, we enrolled 165 Japanese male patients with UC. Information regarding the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score, medication, and severity of UC was obtained from medical records, self-administered questionnaires, and reports from physicians. The definition of ED and severe ED is a SHIM score <17 and <8, respectively.OutcomesNo association between severity of UC and ED was found in Japanese patients. Aging is independently positively associated with ED in patients with UC.ResultsThe prevalence of severe ED and ED was 47.9% and 64.9%, respectively. In this study, mucosal healing, clinical remission, duration of UC, disease extent, and medication were not associated with the prevalence of ED. Older age (≥63 years of age) was independently positively associated with ED (adjusted odds ratio, 12.93; 95% CI: 4.51-43.00) and severe ED (adjusted odds ratio, 9.02; 95% CI: 3.66-23.91).Clinical ImplicationsDisease severity of UC might not be associated with the prevalence of ED in patients with UC.Strengths and LimitationsThis is the first study to investigate the association between several factors regarding UC activity and ED. The limitation of this study is the definition of ED based on SHIM scores.ConclusionNo association between severity of UC and ED was found in Japanese patients. As expected, aging may be independently positively associated with ED in patients with UC.