title: The relationship between uric acid and erectile dysfunction in hypertensive subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelial dysfunction plays a major role in erectile dysfunction (ED). Uric acid (UA) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction. We hypothesized that increased UA levels may be associated with ED and aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between, UA and ED in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 hypertensive patients who have a normal treadmill exercise test were divided into two groups based on the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) test (< 21 defined as ED n = 110, and ≥ 21 defined as normal erectile function n = 90). The differences between the ED and normal erectile function groups were compared and determinants of ED were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of ED was found to be 55.0%. Office blood pressure level was comparable between groups. UA levels were significantly increased in the ED group (6.20 ± 1.56 vs 5.44 ± 1.32, p = 0.01). In a regression model, age [odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.08 (1.04-1.14), p = 0.001], smoking [odds ratio: 2.33 (1.04-5.20), p = 0.04] and UA [odds ratio: 1.76 (1.28-2.41), p = 0.04] were independent determinants of ED. An UA level of > 5.2 mg/dl had 76.2% sensitivity, 43.7% specificity, 62.9% positive and 59.4% negative predictive value for determining ED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UA is an independent determinant of ED irrespective of blood pressure control and questioning erectile function for hypertensive patients with increased UA levels may be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine , Meram, Konya , Turkey.
authors.forename: Alpay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aribas
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kayrak
authors.forename: Seref
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulucan
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keser
authors.forename: Kenan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Hayrudin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alibasic
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akilli
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Solak
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.forename: Yasar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.forename: Zeynettin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katlandur
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanbay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid
keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; erectile dysfunction; hypertension; uric acid