Evaluation of erectile dysfunction in patients with asthma

The aim of the current study was to investigate Erectile dysfunction (ED) in asthma patients without comorbidity and the relationship between the level of asthma control and ED.

Forty male patients aged 24-50 years with controlled-to-uncontrolled asthma and 20 healthy volunteers were included in this study. The International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (IIEF) for ED was used.

Evaluation of the IIEF scores for ED showed that 23 (57.5%) of the asthma patients and 4 (20.0%) of the controls had various degrees of ED, and the difference was statistically significant. In total, 25% of asthma patients had mild ED, 22.5% moderate ED, and 10% severe ED. Severe, moderate and mild ED was more frequent in the asthma group. Of the 23 patients who had various degrees of ED, 13 were in the uncontrolled asthma group. While all asthma patients with severe ED were in the uncontrolled asthma group, of the 9 asthma patients with moderate ED, 6 were in the uncontrolled asthma group, 2 were in the partially controlled asthma group and one was in the controlled asthma group. Additionally, of the 10 asthma patients with mild ED, 3 were in the uncontrolled asthma group, 2 were in the partially controlled asthma group and 5 were in the controlled asthma group.

The current study showed that ED is frequent and more severe in asthma patients than controls with same age. A highly negative correlation was found between ED degree and asthma control severity.