Association of oxidative stress with erectile dysfunction in community-dwelling men and men on dialysis

Objectives To investigate the association between oxidative stress and erectile dysfunction (ED) in community-dwelling men and men on dialysis. Methods This cross-sectional study included 398 community-dwelling men and 42 men on dialysis. Oxidative stress was assessed using 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between oxidative stress and ED. Results Spearman's rank correlation test showed no significant correlation between urine 8-OHdG levels and the 5-Item International Index of Erectile Function scores in community-dwelling men (rho = -0.005, p = 0.917) and between plasma 8-OHdG levels and the Sexual Health Inventory for Men scores in men on dialysis (rho = 0.166, p = 0.295). In community-dwelling men, univariable and multivariable analyses revealed that urine 8-OHdG level was not significantly associated with ED (odds ratio [OR]: 1.005, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.884-1.144, p = 0.934; OR: 0.930, 95% CI: 0.798-1.084, p = 0.353; respectively). In men on dialysis, univariable analyses revealed that plasma 8-OHdG level was not significantly associated with severe ED (OR: 0.967, 95% CI: 0.876-1.066, p = 0.498). Conclusions Oxidative stress was not significantly associated with ED prevalence and severity in community-dwelling men and men on dialysis.