Association of Insulin Resistance with Erectile Dysfunction: A Cross Sectional Study in a Tertiary Level Hospital

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to obtain or maintain a penile erection during sexual intercourse, is a disorder affecting mainly men and is associated with poor relationship quality, low life satisfaction and low self-esteem. ED is associated with insulin resistance or insulin deficiency, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis and neuro-endocrine abnormalities. IR causes endothelial dysfunction to atherosclerosis. As a result of endothelial dysfunction which is characterized by decreased nitric oxide (NO) release and elevated levels of endothelin, IR contributes to erectile dysfunction (ED) and other cardiovascular disease. Objectives: To determine the association of Insulin resistance (IR) in erectile dysfunction. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional observational study was conducted in Department of Dermatology & Venereology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka from September 2021 to August 2022. Total 70 patients with erectile dysfunction were included after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. Detail demographic data were collected from the informant and recorded in structured case report form. Clinical examination and relevant investigations were done. Insulin resistance was assessed in all patients. Data were processed and analysed with the help of computer program Statistical Package the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft excel. Quantitative data expressed as mean and standard deviation and qualitative data as frequency and percentage. Result: Mean age of study subjects was 48.5±9.2 year. Large number of respondents 41(58.5%) came from urban area, and among the patients the middle class (44%) comprising the major percentage of the patients. Present study showed that HOMA-IR ≥2.6 or significant insulin resistance was detected in 57(81.4%) of patients with mean±SD 3.9±0.5. HOMA-IR was significantly correlated with acanthosis nigricans, hypertension, FBS, 2hPG, and dyslipidemia (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Present study concluded that insulin resistance was associated with erectile dysfunction. Insulin resistance (IR) triggers endothelial dysfunction, which contributes to erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease. Medicine Today 2026, Vol.38 (2): 242-246