Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between two different metabolic syndrome (MS) diagnostic criteria and the severity of erectile dysfunction (ED).

Material and methods: A total of 400 male patients over 50 years of age who suffered from ED were included in this study. The 2005 criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and American Heart Association/The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) were used for the diagnosis of MS. Subsequently, the patients were divided into two groups: those with MS and those without MS. The first-five version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was applied to assess the severity of ED (IIEF-5 score 5-7, severe ED; IIEF-EF score 8-21, mild to moderate ED). The severity of ED was compared according to the two different MS diagnostic criteria.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 59.2 years. A total of 48.8% (n=195) and 50.5% (n=202) of patients had MS according to IDF and AHA/NHLBI criteria, respectively. Overall, 209 (52.3%) patients had mild to moderate and 191 (47.8%) patients had severe ED. The IIEF-5 score was lower in MS patients compared with patients without MS for both diagnostic criteria (8.9 vs 10.1 for IDF and 8.8 vs 10.3 for revised AHA/NHLBI). The severe ED ratio was 55.4% and 58.4% in MS patients according to IDF and AHA/NHLBI diagnostic criteria, respectively.

Conclusion: MS was observed in almost half of the patients with ED. Severe ED was more prevalent in MS patients. A similar severe ED ratio was observed for both MS definitions.