PURPOSE - Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in erectile dysfunction (ED). Atrial fibrillation (AF), regardless of subtype, is associated with a prothrombotic state, which is related to endothelial dysfunction.
In this study, we aimed to determine whether AF is an independent risk factor for ED.
METHODS - A total of 50 patients diagnosed with paroxysmal lone AF and 80 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched controls without AF who admitted to outpatient clinics at a tertiary center were enrolled. Diagnosis of ED was performed by using Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire. Patients with a SHIM score ≤21 were defined as having ED.
RESULTS - Mean age of patients were 51. 8 ± 7. 7 and all of the study population were male. Twenty-nine of 50 patients in lone AF group and 25 of 80 patients in control group were diagnosed with ED (58 vs 31. 2 %, p = 0. 002). Mean SHIM score was significantly lower in lone AF group compared with controls (20. 74 ± 2. 67 vs 22. 39 ± 2. 21, p < 0. 001). The multivariate stepwise logistic regression analyses showed that lone AF (OR 1. 94 (1. 44-2. 46), p < 0. 001), smoking (OR 1. 92 (1. 35-2. 44), p = 0. 003), fasting blood glucose (OR 1. 51 (1. 10-1. 85), p = 0. 012), and uric acid levels (OR 1. 56 (1. 13-1. 92), p = 0. 009) were independent predictors of ED.
CONCLUSIONS - Beat-to-beat variation may lead to ED in patients with paroxysmal lone AF and questioning erectile function in patients with lone AF may be recommended.
Journal of interventional cardiac electrophysiology : an international journal of arrhythmias and pacing. 2016 Feb 16 [Epub ahead of print]
Samet Yılmaz, Mevlüt Serdar Kuyumcu, Mehmet Kadri Akboga, Fatih Sen, Kevser Gülcihan Balcı, Mustafa Mücahit Balcı, Özcan Özeke, Dursun Aras, Sinan Aydoğdu
Cardiology Clinic, Yozgat State Hospital, Tekke Mah. Camlik Cad, 66200, Yozgat, Turkey. Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey. , Cardiology Clinic, Turkey Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.