Impaired grip strength is associated with severe erectile dysfunction (ED) in men undergoing dialysis, according to a recent study.
Naoki Fujita, MD, of Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine in Hirosaki, Japan, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study that included 63 men undergoing dialysis (median age 62 years). They evaluated ED using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), dividing the patients into mild/moderate (SHIM score 8 or higher) and severe ED groups (SHIM score 7 or less). All men had ED, with 67% having severe ED.
On multivariable analyses, impaired grip strength was significantly associated with nearly 5-fold increased odds of severe ED, Dr Fujita and colleagues reported in The Aging Male. Impaired gait function, however, had a marginal effect on ED.
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“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the associations of impaired muscle strength and gait function with the severity of ED in men undergoing dialysis,” they wrote.
In explaining possible underlying mechanisms for the association, the authors noted that pelvic floor muscles have an important role in maintaining erectile rigidity, and pelvic floor muscle strength reportedly correlates positively with grip strength. Endothelial dysfunction, a well-recognized risk factor for ED, is another possible mechanism.
Reference
Fujita N, Hatakeyama S, Momota M, et al. Associations of impaired grip strength and gain function with the severity of erectile dysfunction in men undergoing dialysis: a cross-sectional study. Aging Male. 25:1-7. doi:10.1080/13685538.2021.2016690
