Sleep disorders are associated with testosterone deficiency and erectile dysfunction-a U.S. claims database analysis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Sleep Medicine
• Andrology

Background:

• Previous studies on male genitourinary conditions and sleep disorders were limited by small sample sizes and single-institution data.
• Understanding these associations is crucial for comprehensive patient care in men's health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between common sleep disorders and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and testosterone deficiency.
• To leverage a large-scale claims database for robust statistical analysis.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the TriNetX Diamond database, querying data in June 2022.
• Analyzed men aged 40-70 years diagnosed with insomnia, sleep apnea, or circadian rhythm sleep disorder.
• Employed propensity score matching to control for confounding factors including age, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, tobacco use, and obesity.

Main Results:

• Testosterone deficiency was significantly more prevalent in men with sleep apnea (OR 1.66), insomnia (OR 1.74), and circadian rhythm dysfunction (OR 2.63).
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) was also more common in men with sleep apnea (OR 1.02), insomnia (OR 1.30), and circadian rhythm dysfunction (OR 1.54).
• These associations were identified in the largest U.S. cohort reported to date.

Conclusions:

• Poor sleep quality and diagnosed sleep disorders are independently associated with an increased likelihood of testosterone deficiency and ED in men.
• The findings underscore the critical link between sleep health and male genitourinary well-being.
• Highlights the need for screening and management of sleep disorders in men presenting with genitourinary complaints.