Hyperglycemia: the metabolic syndrome component that aggravates erectile dysfunction in Mexican patients

Abstract

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between erectile dysfunction and metabolic syndrome in a group of Mexican patients, study the influence of other morbidity factors on erectile dysfunction, and define the specific metabolic syndrome components most associated with erectile dysfunction severity.

Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on a group of 86 adult Mexican patients previously diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Participants were classified as presenting with or not presenting with metabolic syndrome. Anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical parameters were determined and erectile dysfunction severity, alcohol or tobacco consumption, and depressive behavior were identified through validated questionnaires. The results were compared between the two groups.

Results: The anthropometric measures, laboratory values, and clinical characteristics were significantly different between the two groups. More patients with severe and moderate erectile dysfunction were identified in the group with metabolic syndrome. Of the metabolic syndrome components, glycated hemoglobin >5.7% and fasting glucose >110 mg/dl were significantly associated with the development of erectile dysfunction.

Limitations: The size of our study sample was a limitation, as was the observational and cross-sectional study design.

Originality: Our study results suggest that metabolic syndrome contributed to the progression of erectile dysfunction in the Mexican sample analyzed, with hyperglycemia being the most strongly associated factor.

Conclusions: Metabolic syndrome components were shown to aggravate erectile dysfunction, particularly the lack of glycemic control. The inclusion of fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin as complementary biochemical screening in patients with erectile dysfunction should be assessed.