According to a study recently presented at the European League Against Rheumatism Congress, men suffering from gout are at a higher risk of erection problems. The study, conducted by lead researcher Dr. Naomi Schlesinger and her colleagues, found that the inflamatory arthritis condition can lead to erection problems. The researchers theorized that this is due to gout causing the joints to swell, putting pressure on the arteries and making it difficult for blood to flow easily through the body.
“These results strongly support the proposal to screen all men with gout for the presence of erection problems. Increasing awareness should in turn lead to earlier medical attention and treatment for this distressing condition,” Dr. Schlesinger said in her prepared speech at the European League Against Rheumatism Congress.
For the study, the researchers polled 201 men aged 18 to 89 years who presented at a rheumatology clinic between August 2010 and May 2013. Of these, 83 had gout.
Participants filled out a Sexual Health Inventory in Men (SHIM) questionnaire, which evaluates the ability to have an erection, the firmness of the erection, the ability to penetrate sufficiently for sexual intercourse, and sexual satisfaction.A score of ≤21 indicates erection problems; a score of ≤10 indicates severe erection problems.
The mean SHIM score for all participants was 16.88. Patients with gout had a mean SHIM score of 14.38 compared with 18.53 in patients without gout (P < .0001).
A significantly greater percentage of patients with gout had erection problems compared with patients without gout (76% vs 52%, P = .0007). Also, significantly more men with gout had severe erection problems vs men without gout (43% vs 30%, P = .007).
The presence of erection problems was significantly more frequent in gout patients aged 65 years or older, compared with men of the same age without gout (P = .0001), and was significantly more likely to be severe (P = .0002).
A multivariate analysis adjusted for age, hypertension, low-density cholesterol level, glomerular filtration rate, obesity, and depression found that the association between gout and erection problems was statistically significant (P = .0096).
With these findings, Dr. Schlesinger felt confident that there was a serious connection between gout and erection problems. The researchers stressed that men suffering from gout should consult with a doctor about potential future erection problems.
Evan Hopkins is a 24 year old writer operating out of Atlanta, GA. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys reading books, drinking coffee, and folk music.