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Journals / Hitit Medical Journal / 2026 / Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2

The Role of Inflammation and Disease Severity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Related Erectile Dysfunction

Obstrüktif Uyku Apnesi ile İlişkili Erektil Disfonksiyonda Enflamasyon ve Hastalık Şiddetinin Rolü

Ali Haydar Yılmaz(BILECIK SEYH EDEBALI UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)0000-0001-5797-0655
Selma Aktaş(Bilecik Training and Research Hospital)0009-0004-3546-3774
Burcu Turan(BILECIK SEYH EDEBALI UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)0000-0002-7875-1555
Bade Güleç(Bilecik Training and Research Hospital)0000-0002-2340-4409
Ramazan Topaktas(BILECIK SEYH EDEBALI UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE)0000-0003-3729-3284
Pages
313–319
Publication Date
2026-06-29
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The significant inverse relationship between NLR and erectile function suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may play a central role in OSAS-related erectile dysfunction

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Objective To evaluate the association between OSAS severity and erectile dysfunction and to investigate whether systemic inflammation, assessed by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is associated with erectile function.
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Key Findings & Data:Materal and Methods This cross-sectional study included 55 sexually active men aged 18–65 years who underwent attended Type I polysomnography.
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Conclusion & Impact:The significant inverse relationship between NLR and erectile function suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may play a central role in OSAS-related erectile dysfunction
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Obstrüktif uyku apnesi · erektil disfonksiyon · inflamasyon

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the association between OSAS severity and erectile dysfunction and to investigate whether systemic inflammation, assessed by the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), is associated with erectile function. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) frequently coexist and may share common pathophysiological pathways involving intermittent hypoxia, systemic inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Materal and Methods This cross-sectional study included 55 sexually active men aged 18–65 years who underwent attended Type I polysomnography. OSAS severity was classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on the Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI). Erectile function and sexual satisfaction were assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Systemic inflammation was evaluated using NLR derived from complete blood counts. Psychogenic ED and major confounding comorbidities were excluded. Main outcome measures; IIEF erectile function domain scores and NLR values across OSAS severity groups. Results Erectile function scores were significantly lower in patients with severe OSAS compared with those with mild and moderate disease (p = 0.019). NLR values increased progressively with OSAS severity (p = 0.012) and were inversely correlated with erectile function scores (r = −0.41, p = 0.002). No significant associations were observed between erectile function and testosterone or prolactin levels. Conclusion Severe OSAS is associated with impaired erectile function and increased systemic inflammation. The significant inverse relationship between NLR and erectile function suggests that inflammatory mechanisms may play a central role in OSAS-related erectile dysfunction

Özet

Amaç OSAS şiddeti ile erektil disfonksiyon arasındaki ilişkiyi değerlendirmek ve nötrofil-lenfosit oranı (NLR) ile değerlendirilen sistemik inflamasyonun erektil fonksiyon ile ilişkili olup olmadığını araştırmak. Obstrüktif uyku apnesi sendromu (OSAS) ve erektil disfonksiyon (ED) sıklıkla birlikte görülür ve aralıklı hipoksi, sistemik inflamasyon ve endotel disfonksiyonu içeren ortak patofizyolojik yolakları paylaşabilir. Materyal ve Yöntemler Bu kesitsel çalışmaya, Tip I polisomnografi uygulanan 18-65 yaş arası cinsel olarak aktif 55 erkek dahil edildi. OSAS şiddeti, Apne-Hipopne İndeksi (AHI) temel alınarak hafif, orta veya şiddetli olarak sınıflandırıldı. Erektil fonksiyon ve cinsel tatmin, Uluslararası Erektil Fonksiyon İndeksi (IIEF) kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Sistemik inflamasyon, tam kan sayımından elde edilen NLR kullanılarak değerlendirildi. Psikojenik ED ve önemli karıştırıcı komorbiditeler hariç tutuldu. Ana sonuç ölçütleri; IIEF erektil fonksiyon alanı puanları ve OSAS şiddet grupları genelinde NLR değerleri. Bulgular Erektil fonksiyon skorları, hafif ve orta derecede hastalığı olanlara kıyasla şiddetli OSAS hastalarında anlamlı olarak daha düşüktü (p = 0,019). NLR değerleri OSAS şiddetiyle birlikte kademeli olarak arttı (p = 0,012) ve erektil fonksiyon skorlarıyla ters orantılıydı (r = −0,41, p = 0,002). Erektil fonksiyon ile testosteron veya prolaktin düzeyleri arasında anlamlı bir ilişki gözlenmedi. Sonuç Şiddetli OSAS, erektil fonksiyon bozukluğu ve artmış sistemik inflamasyon ile ilişkilidir. NLR ile erektil fonksiyon arasındaki anlamlı ters ilişki, inflamatuar mekanizmaların OSAS ile ilişkili erektil disfonksiyonda merkezi bir rol oynayabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Yılmaz, A. H., Aktaş, S., Turan, B., Güleç, B., Topaktas, R. (2026). The Role of Inflammation and Disease Severity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Related Erectile Dysfunction. Hitit Medical Journal, Cilt: 8 Sayı: 2, 313–319. https://doi.org/10.52827/hititmedj.1855879

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