Evaluation of the relationship between perirenal fat thickness and severity of erectile dysfunction: A prospective study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether perirenal fat thickness (PRFT) is associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and Methods: Male patients aged 30-70 years who applied to the urology outpatient clinic due to ED were prospectively evaluated in this study. Patients having the similar age without ED complaints were included in the control group. Age, body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, total testosterone and HB1Ac levels of the patients were recorded. Patients presenting with ED were asked to fill the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) form. According to the total IIEF scores, ED patients were divided into 4 groups as severe, modarate, mild-moderate and mild. PRFT of all patients was measured by ultrasonography. Baseline demographic, biochemical and PRFT values were compared between groups. Results: The patients were divided into 2 groups as ED (Group 1, n:61) and control (Group 2, n:61). The mean age was 50.5 ± 10.6 years (min-max 30-70), mean BMI and mean PRFT values were also found as 24.6 ± 4.1 kg/m2 (min-max 17.6-35.1) and 4.6 ± 2.2 mm (min-max 1.5-12), respectively. While no statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of mean age, FBG, high- density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride, HBA1c values, BMI, total testosterone, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the mean PRFT was found to be statistically higher in Group 1 (p<0.001). According to the results of the correlation analysis, severity of ED, IIEF total score, duration of ED, BMI, FBG and HBA1c were significantly correlated with PRFT. Conclusion: PRFT is a simple measurement that can be used to predict the severity of ED.