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Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Sleep Apnea--A Nationwide Population-Based Study
Chia-Min Chen1, Ming-Ju Tsai2, Po-Ju Wei1
1Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Plos One
|July 16, 2015
Summary
This large-scale study found that men with probable sleep apnea (SA) have double the risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED). Early identification of SA is crucial for managing ED in affected populations.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) is increasingly reported in sleep apnea (SA) patients.
- Previous studies lacked large-scale confirmation of this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sleep apnea and the incidence of erectile dysfunction.
- To confirm the link in a large-scale, population-based cohort.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance database.
- Identified adult SA patients, excluded prior ED, and matched them with controls.
- Analyzed data from 4,835 suspected SA patients and 145,050 controls.
Main Results:
- Probable SA patients had a significantly higher incidence rate of ED (5.7 vs. 2.3 per 1000 patient-years).
- Probable SA was confirmed as an independent risk factor for ED (HR=2.0).
- Cumulative incidence of ED was significantly higher in probable SA patients.
Conclusions:
- This study confirms a significant increase in ED incidence among sleep apnea patients in the Chinese population.
- Physicians should consider underlying sleep apnea when treating patients with erectile dysfunction.
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