Increased visceral adiposity index associated with sexual dysfunction in men

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Urology
• Cardiovascular Health

Background:

• Obesity is a known risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED).
• Visceral adipose index (VAI) is a novel parameter to evaluate visceral obesity.
• Understanding the relationship between visceral fat and ED is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare Visceral Adipose Index (VAI) levels between men with and without erectile dysfunction (ED).
• To investigate the potential of VAI as an indicator for ED risk assessment.

Main Methods:

• 177 men were included: 95 with ED and 82 controls.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5).
• Visceral Adipose Index (VAI) was calculated using body mass index (BMI), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels.

Main Results:

• Men with ED exhibited higher BMI, triglyceride (TG) levels, and waist circumference (WC), along with lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels.
• Mean VAI was significantly higher in the ED group (5.18 ± 2.50) compared to the control group (3.47 ± 1.76).
• VAI levels were statistically higher in men with ED (p < .001).

Conclusions:

• The Visceral Adipose Index (VAI) is easily calculated using readily available measurements (WC, BMI, TG, HDL).
• VAI serves as a practical index for evaluating visceral fat dysfunction.
• VAI shows potential as a valuable tool for assessing and calculating erectile dysfunction risk.