RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is suspected to be the symptom manifestation of COVID-19. However, scarce data was presented this day. Our study was conducted to determine the prevalence of ED and its associated factors among Thai patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Sexually active males with COVID-19, hospitalized between May and July 2021 at one university hospital in Bangkok, were screened for erectile dysfunction by the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5). Demographic data and COVID-19 treatment history were collected. Mental health status, including depression and anxiety, was evaluated with the Thai Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), respectively. The sample size was calculated, and logistic regression was used to analyze the association. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three men with COVID-19 were recruited. ED prevalence was 64.7%, of which severity was mostly mild. Logistic regression, adjusted for age, BMI, and medical comorbidities, portrayed a significant association between ED and mental health status. Higher risk of ED was found in participants with major depression [adjusted OR 8.45, 95% CI: 1.01-70.96, P=0.049] and higher GAD-7 total score [adjusted OR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01-1.31, P=0.039]. CONCLUSIONS: Thai patients with COVID-19 had high prevalence of ED, which was associated with mental disorders. Thus, screening for mental problems is recommended in individuals with COVID-19 and ED.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: Several studies confirm multiple complications after COVID-19 infection, including men's sexual health, which is caused by both physical and psychological factors. However, studies focusing on long-term effects among recovered patients are still lacking. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the erectile function at three months after COVID-19 recovery along with its predicting factors. METHODS: We enrolled all COVID-19 male patients, who were hospitalized from May to July 2021, and declared to be sexually active within the previous two weeks. Demographic data, mental health status, and erectile function were collected at baseline and prospectively recollected three months after hospital discharge. To determine changes between baseline and the follow-up, a generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMM) was used. Also, logistic regression analysis was used to identify the associating factors of erectile dysfunction (ED) at three months. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three men with COVID-19 participated. Using GLMM, ED prevalence at three months after recovery was 50.3%, which was significantly lower compared with ED prevalence at baseline (64.7%, P = 0.002). Declination of prevalence of major depression and anxiety disorder was found, but only major depression reached statistical significance (major depression 13.7% vs. 1.4%, P < 0.001, anxiety disorder 5.2% vs. 2.8% P = 0.22). Logistic regression, adjusted for BMI, medical comorbidities, and self-reported normal morning erection, showed a significant association between ED at three months and age above 40 years and diagnosis of major depression with adjusted OR of 2.65, 95% CI 1.17-6.01, P = 0.02 and 8.93, 95% CI 2.28-34.9, P = 0.002, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed a high ED prevalence during the third month of recovery from COVID-19. The predicting factors of persistent ED were age over 40 years and diagnosis of major depression during acute infection.