Erectile dysfunction in Egyptian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a life-long disease affecting the airways. It occurs owing to long-term exposure to hazardous smokes and particles and leads to increased inflammatory response in the airway. Multiple well-recognized comorbidities are associated with COPD presence. Sexual affection is considered one of them through incompletely understood mechanism. Studies demonstrating erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence among Egyptian patients with COPD are limited. Aim This study aimed to assess ED prevalence in male patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD and also to assess their serum testosterone level. Patients and Methods One hundred male patients with COPD and 40 age-matched healthy male controls were included in the study. Each participant was subjected to detailed medical history and full clinical examination, pulmonary assessment (pulmonary function tests by spirometry and arterial blood gas analysis), and measurement of total testosterone level. Also, each participant completed the Arabic version of the IIEF-5 questionnaire for assessment of erectile function and ED severity. Results The scores of the IIEF-5 questionnaire revealed that 71% of patients had ED of varying severity: 16% mild, 4% mild to moderate, 18% moderate, and 33% severe. Conclusion The results showed that patients with COPD also have ED of variable degrees. IIEF-5 scores negatively correlated with the age of the patients and the duration of COPD.