Effects of Ankylosing Spondylitis on Erectile Function

Özet

Objectives: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), which is a chronic rheumatologic disorder, may be associated with erectile dysfunction(ED). This study aims to investigate the incidence of erectile dysfunction in patients with AS with a control group and to investigatethe risk factors for ED.Methods: All demographic data were recorded. Participants in both groups filled in the IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function),Beck Depression Index (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Index (BAI) questionnaires, whereas patients with AS additionally filled in BathAnkylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath AnkylosingSpondylitis Metrological Index (BASMI) and Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL) questionnaires. Patients were comparedconcerning erectile function and predictive factors. Fifty patients with the AS diagnosis and fifty healthy males were included inthis study.Results: ED of all degrees was present in 38% and 30% of males in the AS group and control group, respectively, with no statisticaldifference. However, the mean IIEF-EF domain score of the AS group (22.3±7.0) was significantly lower than the control group(25.7±4.3) (p=0.004). In addition, BDI and BAI scores were significantly higher in the AS group. When we have divided patients inthe AS group into two, according to the presence or absence of the ED, the mean IIEF-EF domain score of patients with ED waslower than AS patients without ED. No difference was detected in both groups concerning age and the duration of the disease. Patientswho had ED in the AS group had significantly higher scores in BASDAI, BASFI, depression and anxiety; however, no significantdifference was detected among groups regarding BASMI scores.Mean IIEF score was lower in patients with AS, and this had a negative correlation with BASDAI, BASFI, ASQoL, BDI and BAI scores.Conclusion: Erectile function scores were slightly lower in the AS group than the control group in our study. ED risk factors wereshown as disease activity and psychological status.