Development of a Risk Predictive Model for Erectile Dysfunction at 12 Months after COVID-19 Recovery: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objectives: To develop a risk prediction model for the identification of features involved in the prediction of erectile dysfunction (ED) at 12 months following COVID-19 recovery. Methods: We performed an observational prospective multicentre study. Participants were classified according to their history of COVID-19: (I) patients with a past history of COVID-19 and (II) patients without a previous microbiological diagnosis of COVID-19. A total of 361 patients (past history of COVID-19, n = 166; no past history of COVID-19, n = 195) were assessed from January 2022 to March 2023. Patients with a past history of COVID-19 were assessed at 12 months following COVID-19 recovery. The primary outcome measure was ED, assessed through the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Data concerning epidemiologic variables, comorbidities and active treatment were also collected. We performed a binary logistic regression to develop a risk predictive model. Among the models developed, we selected the one with the higher Area Under the Curve (AUC). Results: The median age was 55 years in both groups. The ED prevalence was 55.9% in patients with past history of COVID-19 and 44.1% in those with no past history of COVID-19. The best predictive model developed for ED comprised 40 variables and had an AUC of 0.8. Conclusions: We developed a regression model for the prediction of ED 12 months after COVID-19 recovery. The application of our predictive tool in a community setting could eventually prevent the adverse effects of ED on cardiovascular health and the associated unfavourable economic impact.

Journal of clinical medicine. 2024 Sep 27*** epublish ***

Fernando Natal Alvarez, Maria Consuelo Conde Redondo, Nicolas Sierrasesumaga Martin, Alejandro Garcia Viña, Carmen Marfil Peña, Alfonso Bahillo Martinez, Mario Jojoa, Eduardo Tamayo Gomez

Department of Urology, Clinic University Hospital of Valladolid, 47003 Valladolid, Spain., Department of Urology, Río Hortega University Hospital, 47003 Valladolid, Spain., Department of Urology, Santa Barbara Hospital of Soria, 42005 Soria, Spain., University of Valladolid, 47002 Valladolid, Spain., BioCritic, Group for Biomedical Research in Critical Care Medicine, 47003 Valladolid, Spain.