title: Association Between Erectile Function and Biomarkers of Subclinical Atherosclerosis: A Study Based on Middle-Aged Healthy Men from the General Population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidemiological studies suggest atherosclerosis as a common risk factor between cardiovascular diseases and erectile dysfunction (ED). We aimed to determine the association between erectile function and the biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis in 119 middle-aged healthy men from the general population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Erectile function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). Serum levels of biomarkers of atherosclerosis: Apolipoprotein A, Apolipoprotein B, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. In addition, demographic data was collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) of age was 55 years (± 4.0). The prevalence of ED was 50%. There was a negative significant correlation between IIEF-5 and CRP levels (r = -0.20, p = 0.02), and BMI (r = -0.20, p = 0.03), respectively. No significant correlations between IIEF-5 and serum levels of Apolipoprotein A, Apolipoprotein B, and fibrinogen were found (p > 0.05). A positive significant correlation was found between BMI and fibrinogen (r = 0.20, p = 0.01), CRP (r = 0.30, p = 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression model with IIEF-5 as the dependent variable, CRP was the only biomarker that predicted ED (odds ratio = 1.350; 95 % CI: 1.044-1.754).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that CRP is a biomarker of subclinical atherosclerosis associated with ED. This association seems to be linked to greater BMI among such men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Medicine, Division of Urological Research, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Saad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elzanaty
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Babak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rezanezhad
authors.affiliation: Heart health group, Malmö, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Willenheimer
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia Clinic, Cardiology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borgquist
keywords: Atherosclerosis; CRP; Erectile dysfunction; Obesity