Gum Disease, Erectile Dysfunction Linked

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are more likely to have chronic periodontitis than those without ED, researchers in Turkey reported.

The study, by Faith Oğuz, MD, of Inonu University in Malatya, Turkey, and colleagues, enrolled 162 men aged 30-40 years. Of these, 80 had ED and 82 did not (controls). The two groups were similar with respect to body mass index, household income, and educational status.

Results showed that 42 patients (53%) in the ED group had severe chronic periodontitis compared with 19 (23%) in the control group, according to findings published online in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. After adjusting for age, body mass index and other potential confounders, the men with ED were 3.29 times more likely than controls to have chronic periodontitis. The ED group also had more decayed, missing, and filled teeth.

From the January 01, 2013 Issue of Renal and Urology News