title: The association between chronic periodontitis and vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to explore the association between erectile dysfunction (ED) and chronic periodontitis (CP) in observational studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane up to and including May 22, 2015, was conducted by two independent reviewers. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager 5.3, and the results are expressed as odds ratios (ORs) together with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), as determined using a random effects model. Subgroup analysis was performed by age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 250 potentially eligible articles, four studies, involving 38,111 cases and 174,807 controls, were included. Based on random effects meta-analysis, a significant association between CP and ED was identified (OR = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.87-5.05, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis was performed due to the presence of statistically extensive heterogeneity (I(2) = 98%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this systematic review revealed a positive association between CP and ED; however, because the presence and extent of statistical heterogeneity limits the conclusiveness of our findings, larger and better-controlled studies of socially homogeneous populations as well as pathophysiological studies are required to confirm the relationship between CP and ED and to explore the biological mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Qianting
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D055113:Chronic Periodontitis; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio
keywords: chronic periodontitis; endothelial dysfunction; erectile dysfunction; meta-analysis; systematic review