World J Mens Health.  2015 Dec;33(3):174-181. 10.5534/wjmh.2015.33.3.174.

Associations of Self-Reported Erectile Function with Non-Invasive Measurements of Endothelial Function: A Preliminary Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Urology, Severance Hospital, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Urology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kscho99@yuhs.ac
  • 3Department of Urology, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the association of self-reported erectile function and endothelial function using the EndoPAT device.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We prospectively enrolled 76 men (age> or =40 years) after obtaining a complete medical history and a self-reported questionnaire (International Index of Erectile Function-5 [IIEF-5], SEP Q2, Q3). Endothelial function was noninvasively measured with an EndoPAT 2000, recorded as the reactive hyperemia index (RHI), and analyzed according to the patients' baseline characteristics.
RESULTS
The mean patient age and IIEF-5 score were 62.50+/-8.56 years and 11.20+/-6.36, respectively. In comparing the RHI according to erectile dysfunction (ED) risk factors, the RHI was significantly lower in older subjects (p=0.004). There was no difference in the RHI according to age, body mass index, waist circumference, obesity, smoking habit, or other comorbidities. When the subjects were divided into four groups according to the severity of ED, no statistical differences in the RHI value were found among the groups. There was no difference in IIEF-5 according to the RHI when categorized according to the normal cutoff value or quartile ranges. The second subdomain of IIEF-5 (erection firmness) was significantly correlated with the RHI value (R=0.309, p=0.007); however, this was not the case with the other IIEF-5 subdomains. Self-assessment showed a tendency toward a negative correlation with the RHI value (R=-0.202, p=0.080).
CONCLUSIONS
The role of endothelial function measurement by the EndoPAT in the evaluation and management of ED patients remains inconclusive. However, further studies are needed to validate the role of endothelial function measurement, by the EndoPAT or any other device.

Keyword

Endothelium; Erectile dysfunction; Plethysmography

MeSH Terms

Body Mass Index
Comorbidity
Endothelium
Erectile Dysfunction
Humans
Hyperemia
Male
Obesity
Plethysmography
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Self-Assessment
Smoke
Smoking
Waist Circumference
Smoke

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Relationships between the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores. (A) No statistically significant differences were observed in the RHI when subjects were divided into four groups according to the severity of erectile dysfunction based on their total IIEF-5 scores (p=0.542 by ANOVA). (B) No significant differences in IIEF-5 scores were observed according to the RHI when categorized with respect to the normal cutoff value (p=0.342 by the Student's t-test). (C) No statistically significant differences in IIEF-5 scores were observed according to the RHI when categorized according to quartile ranges (p=0.476 by ANOVA). ANOVA: analysis of variance, Q: quartile, ED: erectile dysfunction.

  • Fig. 2 Correlations between the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) subdomains. The second subdomain of the IIEF-5 (erection firmness) was significantly correlated with the RHI (R=0.309, p=0.007). However, no statistically significant correlations were found between RHI values and other IIEF-5 subdomains. Self-assessment scores showed a marginally significant tendency to be negatively correlated with the RHI (R=-0.202, p=0.080).


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