Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by interrupted respiration, interrupted sleep and lowered oxygen saturation as a result of upper airway obstruction. Coexistence of OSAS and erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequent. Although the exact mechanism of ED in OSAS patients is not known, it has been reported that ED can be the first finding of neuronal damage; morning fatigue and high apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) have been reported to be predisposing factors for ED in patients with severe OSAS. This pathophysiology suggests that treatment of OSAS may also treat ED. This study investigates whether OSAS treatment has an effect on the severity of ED.
Methods: Seventy male patients above 40 years of age, who had been admitted to the Sleep Disorders Unit of the Neurology Clinic and diagnosed with OSAS were included in the study. Patients were asked to fill out the IIEF-5 form before and after 3 months of OSAS treatment.
Results: The mean age of 70 patients was determined as 49,1 ± 12,5 years and 28 patients (43,8%) were evaluated as mild ED, 12 (18,8%) as moderate and 24 (37,5%) as severe OSAS according to the apnea hypopnea index (AHI). While the mean IIEF-5 score was determined as 16,6±5,48 in the mild OSAS group, 18,05±6,12 in the moderate OSAS group and 19,45±7,25 in the severe OSAS group before treatment, it was determined as 15,43±7,36, 17,83±3,86 and 18,08±2,19 after 3 months of treatment (p <0.001).
Conclusion: The IIEF-5 scores of patients were observed to increase after OSAS treatment. Although the erection quality increases with OSAS treatment only, urological assessment and treatment in addition to OSAS treatment should be carried out for erectile dysfunction.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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