Is obesity an underlying factor in erectile dysfunction?

Objectives: We conducted a study to evaluate the impact of obesity on erect ile function in men with erectile dysfunction. Methods: Three hundred and t wenty-five consecutive patients with erectile dysfunction were evaluated. W e classified the men into 2 groups according to body weight: <120% of the i deal body weight, and greater than or equal to 120%. We compared several er ectile capacities and the findings of penile duplex ultrasonography. Result s: There was a statistically significant decrease in the quality of residua l erectile function in patients with obesity (penile rigidity grade 1.32 ve rsus 1.62 in the nonobese patients). Obese patients also have an increased prevalence of vascular risk factors based on a review of the medical record s and vascular impairment by duplex ultrasound study (43 and 62% in the obe se patients versus 30 and 42% in the nonobese patients, respectively, p < 0 .05), However, when we focused only on the patients without any vascular ri sk factors, no significant difference between the 2 groups was noted in the quality of residual erectile function and also the prevalence of penile Va scular impairments (p > 0.05), Conclusions These data demonstrate that obes ity in itself does not seem to be an underlying factor, but does impose a r isk to vasculogenic impotence by developing chronic vascular disease.