Study finds association between open-angle glaucoma and ED

Men with erectile dysfunction (ED) also were more likely to have had open-angle glaucoma (OAG) than those without ED, according to a study published in the February 12 online issue of Ophthalmology.

The study, conducted by Shiu-Dong Chung, MD, and colleagues, identified a novel association between ED and prior OAG by using a nationwide, population-based data with a retrospective case-control cohort design in Taiwan.

OAG is associated with systemic metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, and both share common risk factors with ED. However, few studies had investigated the association between ED and OAG.

In this case-controlled study matching 4,605 men with ED with 5 control patients each, showed that after controlling for potential confounding factors, men with ED were almost 3 times more likely to have had a prior diagnosis of OAG (OR=2.85; 95% Cl, 2.10-4.07).  According to the study, 1.1% of the ED patients had prior OAG compared with 0.4% of patients without ED.

Researchers adjusted for a patient’s monthly income, geographical location, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and alcohol abuse.

The investigators also concluded that their findings suggest that prospective studies should be undertaken to develop the appropriate clinical guidelines for evaluating concurrent or subsequent ED in OAG patients.