Relação entre nível de atividade física e disfunção erétil em homens com idade entre 40 e 75 anos

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction is highly prevalent in men aged 40-70 years and has become a marker of increased cardiovascular risk. Men who adopt changes in lifestyle, including physical activity and weight loss improve their erectile function. OBJECTIVE: Asses the presence of the association between physical activity level, physical fitness level and characteristics (obesity, dyslipidemia, and abdomen size increase) and higher cardiovascular risk habits (smoking) with the presence of erectile dysfunction in men aged 4075 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We examined 180 patients men aged 40-75 years. Patients were evaluated for age, presence of dyslipidemia and smoking and for anthropometric parameters with the characterization of body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and abdomen circumference. For assessing the level of physical fitness, a test was performed to measure the indirect maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max). The evaluation of erectile function was made by the International Index of Erectile Function six-iten short scale questionnaire (IIEF-5) and assessment of physical activity level by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in its short version. RESULTS: This study found an inverse association between: physical activity level and erectile dysfunction (p<0.001) and fitness level and erectile dysfunction (p<0.001); and direct association between: smoking and erectile dysfunction (p=0.02), dyslipidemia and erectile dysfunction (p=0.02) as well as age and erectile dysfunction (p<0.001). There were no significant statistical differences in the associations between: erectile dysfunction and body mass index (p=0.062), waist hip ratio (p=0.185) as well as abdominal circumference (p=0.072). CONCLUSIONS: Men with more physical activity or better physical fitness are less likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. This study reinforces the concept that healthy habits have a direct effect on erectile function and consequently on cardiovascular risk factors.