Association between remnant cholesterol inflammation index and erectile dysfunction among U.S. adults: a...

C-reactive protein (CRP) and remnant cholesterol (RC) are two indicators that are included in the remnant cholesterol inflammation index (RCII). The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between RCII and the likelihood of erectile dysfunction (ED).

A total of 1,806 participants from the 2001-2002 and 2003-2004 survey cycles of the United States (U.S.) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the analysis. The self-reported questionnaire data from NHANES participants served as the basis for the ED diagnosis in this investigation. To increase the normality of the data distribution and lessen the influence of extreme values on the study outcomes, the RCII was log-transformed before statistical modeling. RCII was natural log-transformed [ln (RCII)] to improve distributional normality for regression analyses. In order to thoroughly assess the relationship between RCII and ED, this study used subgroup analysis, smooth curve fitting, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve study, and logistic regression models.

Elevated ln (RCII) levels were substantially positively correlated with an increased risk of ED after multivariable adjustment [odds ratio (OR) =1.13; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.27]. The greatest tertile of ln (RCII) (T3) was substantially linked to a higher risk of ED when compared to the lowest tertile (T1) (OR =1.62; 95% CI: 1.12-2.35). Elevated levels of ln (RCII) were positively connected with an increased chance of developing ED, according to smooth curve fitting research. Subgroup analysis also showed that people over 50 years, people aged 30-39 years, those with higher body mass index (BMI), non-smokers, and those with higher levels of education had a stronger correlation between RCII and the risk of ED. The area under the curve (AUC) of RCII was significantly greater than that of the other indicators, according to ROC curve performance analysis.

The study's findings show that higher RCII levels are strongly linked to a higher risk of ED and imply that they could be used as a stand-alone predictor of ED risk.