Association between frailty index and erectile dysfunction: A cross-sectional study using NHANES 2001 to 2004 data

Area of Science:

• Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine
• Urology and Men's Health
• Public Health and Epidemiology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting men's health and quality of life.
• Frailty, a state of increased vulnerability, is associated with adverse health outcomes in older adults.
• The relationship between frailty and ED in the general US population remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the frailty index (FI) and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED).
• To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the FI for diagnosing ED in a large US cohort.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2004 data from 1372 participants.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) assessed via self-report; Frailty Index (FI) calculated using a 49-item model.
• Weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analyses adjusted for covariates; ROC curve analysis for diagnostic performance.

Main Results:

• A significant positive association was found between the FI and ED (OR: 1.09, P < .001), with a linear relationship observed.
• Pre-frail (OR: 1.09, P = .011) and frail (OR: 1.22, P < .001) groups showed increased odds of ED compared to non-frail.
• The FI demonstrated moderate predictive accuracy for ED diagnosis (AUC = 0.662).

Conclusions:

• The frailty index (FI) is significantly associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) in the US general population.
• Increased frailty levels correlate with a higher prevalence and risk of ED.
• The FI shows potential as a valuable biomarker for ED prevention and clinical assessment.