Men With Rheumatoid Arthritis Have Increased Risk of Erectile Dysfunction

According to Rheumatology News, men with rheumatoid arthritis have two-thirds greater risk of developing erectile dysfunction compared to men without the disease. The study results, which were the first to show the association, were initially published in a letter in the January 4, 2012 Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The study included men between the age of 18 and 80, who were first diagnosed with erectile dysfunction between 2001-2009. They were compared to more than 37,000 control patients.

To ensure diagnostic validity, only patients who were diagnosed twice with erectile dysfunction were included in the study, with at least one of the diagnoses made by a urologist. Similarly, only patients who were diagnosed at least twice with rheumatoid arthritis were included, with at least one of the diagnoses made by a rheumatologist. Also, the rheumatoid arthritis patients had to have been prescribed a DMARD to be included. Further studies will be necessary to determine the actual mechanism causing the association.

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