Relationship between Men with Sleep Apnea and Erectile Dysfunction

It has been discovered that men who suffer from depression and other poor quality of life symptoms along with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are more likely to also acquire erectile dysfunction (ED). This comparison was made against those who were diagnosed with only OSA.

A cross-sectional analysis that was completed by Yung Jin Jeon, MD along with his associates at Seoul National University Hospital of Korea was published online October 19. The Journal of Sexual Medicine reported the findings that the researchers used including nocturnal polysomnography as the assessment measure objective of sleep. The men that were used in the study had an average age of 44 years old with a plus or minus of around 12 1/2 years on either side of the scale. The ED group was in general an older group than the participants of the non-ED group.

During the researching process it was discovered that the amount of men who had ED was not directly related to how severe the OSA was. The scores recorded on the Beck Depression Inventory and the Epsworth Sleepiness Scale were oppositely related to the International Index of Erectile Function, the Korean version (KIEEF-5).

Moreover, there was a positive correlation between the score on the Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life and KIIEF-5. One area that showed no relation with the KIEEF-5 was the lowest oxygen saturation and respiratory disturbance index.

It was found in a variable analysis that a low Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life score, depression symptoms, and an abundance of daytime sleepiness were greatly related to ED.

Those conducting the research did an analysis that was multivariate logistic regression in nature and made adjustments for variable factors such as diabetes diagnosis, hypertension, body mass index, and age. It was reported that the ED was related independently to the Calgary Sleep Apnea Quality of Life score and the depression, but it was not correlated in any way with the lowest oxygen saturation or respiratory disturbance index.

It is known that ED can be affected by a contributing factor of OSA. There have been a plethora of studies and research done to evaluate the effect of OSA treatment along with the development of the ED. The current study is different from previous studies in the way which it was reported that there was an independent relationship between ED and sleep apnea. The size of the group used in the newer study was much larger and it was documented as a reason for the variation by the authors. The purpose of the larger group was to uncover the additional risk factors of quality of life and depressive symptoms.

In conclusion, the experts suggested that a psychological management along with psychological approaches may be the most beneficial way to treat men with both OSA and ED.