Although physical activity is associated with a decreased risk of erectile dysfunction (ED), the association of ED with physical function remains unclear.

To investigate the relationship between gait function and ED in a community-dwelling population.

This cross-sectional study analyzed 324 men who participated in the Iwaki Health Promotion Project in 2015 in Hirosaki, Japan. ED was assessed with the 5-Item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). The participants were divided into 2 groups: low IIEF-5 score (≤16) and high IIEF-5 score (>16). We evaluated physical function, including gait function and grip strength. Gait function was evaluated by 10-meter gait speed and 2-step score (the ratio of the maximum length of 2 strides to height). We assessed daily physical activity, comorbidities, mental status, and laboratory data. The association between physical function and a low IIEF-5 score was analyzed by multivariate logistic regression analysis.

The main outcome measure was to assess whether gait function was an independent indicator for erectile dysfunction.

Of 324 men, 154 (48%) had a low IIEF-5 score. Grip strength, 2-step score, and 10-meter gait speed in the low IIEF-5 group were significantly inferior to those in the high IIEF-5 group. Multivariate analysis showed that the 2-step score (odds ratio = 0.08), age, and total testosterone were independently associated with a low IIEF-5.

This study may motivate clinicians to investigate predictive values of physical function for ED.

The strength of this study was the use of simple, objective, and feasible tests for gait function to assess its association with ED. The limitations of this study were selection bias, regional bias, and nature of the cross-sectional study.

Of the gait functional tests, not the 10-meter gait speed but 2-step score was an independent indicator for the presence of ED. Okamoto T, Hatakeyama S, Imai A, et al. The Relationship Between Gait Function and Erectile Dysfunction: Results from a Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study in Japan. J Sex Med 2019; XX:XXX-XXX.

The journal of sexual medicine. 2019 Sep 12 [Epub ahead of print]

Teppei Okamoto, Shingo Hatakeyama, Atsushi Imai, Sakae Konishi, Kazutaka Okita, Hayato Yamamoto, Yuki Tobisawa, Tohru Yoneyama, Kazuyuki Mori, Takahiro Yoneyama, Yasuhiro Hashimoto, Shigeyuki Nakaji, Chikara Ohyama

Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan., Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan. Electronic address: ., Department of Advanced Transplant and Regenerative Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan., Department of Social Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan., Department of Urology, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan; Department of Advanced Transplant and Regenerative Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan.

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