Effects of self-initiated physical activity on erectile dysfunction: a follow-up study in 125,439 Brazilian men

• Grant number: 24/05423-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Nelson Wolosker
• Grantee: Rafael Mathias Pitta
• Host Institution: Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein (IIEPAE). Sociedade Beneficente Israelita Brasileira Albert Einstein (SBIBAE). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction, defined as the inability to obtain and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for guaranteed sexual intercourse, is associated with impaired quality of life and cardiovascular disease in men over 40 years of age. Physical activity is one of the non-pharmacological treatment methods frequently used in this clinicopathological condition. However, there is little high-quality scientific evidence to prove the association between physical activity and erectile dysfunction, and the long-term association between self-initiated physical activity and erectile dysfunction is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate the association between self-initiated physical activity and erectile dysfunction, as well as its risk factors, in men aged 40 years or over who participated in health screening initiatives at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein between 2008 and 2022. Trial design: A follow-up study. Sample: 125,439 male patients aged 40 or over who participated in two or more health screening initiatives at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein between 2008 and 2022. Outcomes: The primary outcomes measured were self-initiated physical activity and erectile dysfunction. The secondary outcomes measured were the associations of clinical questions (lipid profile, glycated hemoglobin, c-reactive protein, systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, use of medications, body mass index, lower urinary tract symptoms) and behavioral factors (smoking, alcohol consumption, eating habits, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, sleep quality) in erectile dysfunction. Results: It is expected that patients who became active will show a significant association with erectile dysfunction in relation to patients who remained sedentary, thus showing the importance of carrying out and maintaining physical activity in preventing erectile dysfunction (AU)