High prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men with hyperthyroidism: a meta-analysis.

Xiaowen Liu, Yanling Wang, Li Ma, Danhui Wang, Zhihong Peng, Zenghui Mao

Journal: BMC endocrine disorders 2024;24(1):58

PMID: 38689308

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Plain Language Summary

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can significantly impact physical and mental health and quality of life of affected men and their partners and the precise causes and contributing factors are not yet known. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between hyperthyroidism and ED. Four cohort studies including 6,429 individuals with hyperthyroidism and 19,090 controls were included in the meta-analysis. Prevalence of ED was 31.1% in patients with hyperthyroidism and 21.9% in patient with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism which was significantly higher compared to controls without hyperthyroidism. No heterogeneity or publication bias was noted. The authors conclude that patients with hyperthyroidism have a higher prevalence of ED and that future research should evaluate the underlying mechanisms and potential treatment options.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between hyperthyroidism and the risk of developing erectile dysfunction (ED).

METHODS

A comprehensive search of multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science, was conducted to identify relevant studies investigating the relationship between hyperthyroidism and ED in men. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle‒Ottawa Quality Rating Scale, and a meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16.0 and RevMan 5.3 software.

RESULTS

A total of four papers encompassing 25,519 study subjects were included in the analysis. Among these, 6,429 individuals had hyperthyroidism, while 19,090 served as controls. The overall prevalence of ED in patients with hyperthyroidism was determined to be 31.1% (95% CI 0.06-0.56). In patients with uncomplicated hyperthyroidism, the incidence of ED was 21.9% (95% CI 0.05-0.38). The combined odds ratio (OR) for the four studies was 1.73 (OR: 1.73; 95% CI [1.46-2.04]; p < .00001).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate a higher incidence of ED in patients with hyperthyroidism. These results provide valuable information for healthcare professionals and can facilitate discussions surrounding appropriate treatment options for ED in patients with hyperthyroidism.

Address: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China. [email protected].; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.; College of Health Science and Engineering, Hubei University, Wuhan, China.; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Hereditary Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Changsha Hospital for Maternal & Child Health Care, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China. [email protected].

DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01585-6