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The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on erectile function in Chinese CP/CPPS patients

Wei-Jie Song1,2, Ji-Wei Huang1,2, Yuan Liu1,2

  • 1Department of Urology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.

Asian Journal of Andrology
|September 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted erectile function in Chinese men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), increasing anxiety, depression, and erectile dysfunction (ED). This created a detrimental cycle worsening symptoms and mental health.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Psychology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding its impact on various health conditions.
  • Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a prevalent condition affecting men's quality of life.
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common comorbidity associated with CP/CPPS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on erectile function in Chinese patients diagnosed with CP/CPPS.
  • To assess the relationship between the pandemic, psychological distress (anxiety and depression), and ED severity in CP/CPPS patients.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective study involving 657 CP/CPPS patients from November 2018 to November 2022.
  • Patients were categorized into pre- and post-COVID-19 outbreak groups.
  • Evaluations included the NIH-CPSI for CP/CPPS severity, IIEF-5 for erectile function, GAD-7 for anxiety, and PHQ-9 for depression.

Main Results:

  • A significant increase in severe erectile dysfunction (ED) was observed in CP/CPPS patients post-pandemic, linked to pandemic-induced anxiety and depression.
  • Moderate-to-severe ED correlated with exacerbated anxiety and depression symptoms in CP/CPPS patients (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001).
  • A vicious cycle was identified where worsening ED exacerbated psychological distress, and vice versa, complicating patient management.

Conclusions:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the psychological well-being of CP/CPPS patients, worsening their clinical symptoms and ED.
  • Addressing the mental health of CP/CPPS patients through enhanced psychological interventions is crucial during and after the pandemic.
  • Integrated management strategies are necessary to improve treatment outcomes for CP/CPPS patients experiencing psychological distress and ED.

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