ABSTRACT
Background and study aims: There is a lack of studies on erectile dysfunction [ED] in patients diagnosed with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD]. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ED in patients with NAFLD and to determine the independent predictors of ED in these patients
Patients and methods: We conducted a prospective, hospital-based study of 192 consecutive male patients with NAFLD. All patients underwent clinical evaluation; abdominal ultrasonography; test for viral hepatitis markers; and estimation of liver chemistry panel, complete blood count, prothrombin time, serum lipids panel, serum testosterone, and fasting serum levels of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide
Results: The mean age of the study population was 42.4 +/- 7.7 years [79.1% >/= 40 years]. Of the 192 patients with NAFLD, 88 [45.8%] had ED, 28 [14.6%] had metabolic syndrome, 25 [13%] had type-2 diabetes mellitus [DM], and 131 [68.2%] had insulin resistance [IR]. The mean level of serum testosterone was 3.17 +/- 2.94 ng/mL, while the mean insulin resistance index was 2.9 +/- 1.7. Mild ED [38.6%] was the most frequent grade of ED. Age >/= 40 years [odds ratio [OR] 6.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-24.1; p- 0.006], IR [OR 5.9; 95% CI 1.7-20.6; p- 0.005], and low serum testosterone [OR 5.1; 95% CI 1.5-17.1; p- 0.009] were the predictors of ED
Conclusions: ED is a common disorder in male patients with NAFLD; both IR and low serum testosterone contribute to its development. Treatment of IR may carry a dual benefit of improving erectile function and decreasing the grade of hepatic steatosis