Restless legs syndrome and erectile dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE
Dopaminergic hypofunction in the central nervous system may contribute to restless legs syndrome (RLS) and erectile dysfunction (ED). We therefore examined whether men with RLS have higher prevalences of ED.


METHODS
RLS was assessed using a set of standardized questions. Men were considered to have RLS if they met 4 RLS diagnostic criteria recommended by the International RLS Study Group, and had restless legs > or = 5 times/month. Erectile function was assessed by a questionnaire.


METHODS
Community-based.


METHODS
23,119 men who participated in the Health Professional Follow-up Study free of diabetes and arthritis.


RESULTS
Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios for ED were 1.16 and 1.78 (95% confidence interval: 1.4, 2.3; P trend < 0.0001) for men with RLS symptoms 5-14 times/mo, and 15+ times/mo, respectively, relative to those without RLS, after adjusting for age, smoking, BMI, antidepressant use, and other covariates. The associations between RLS and ED persisted in subgroup analysis according to age, obesity, and smoking status.


CONCLUSIONS
Men with RLS had a higher likelihood of concurrent ED, and the magnitude of the observed association was increased with a higher frequency of RLS symptoms. These results suggest that ED and RLS share common determinants.
Gao
Xiang
X
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. xiang.gao@channing.harvard.edu
Schwarzschild
Michael A
MA
O'Reilly
Eilis J
EJ
Wang
Hao
H
Ascherio
Alberto
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012148:Restless Legs Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors
D004298:Dopamine