Newly Diagnosed Erectile Dysfunction and Risk of Depression: A Population-Based 5-year Follow-Up Study in Taiwan

Abstract

Introduction Depression might increase the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED), and ED might further exacerbate depression. The causal relationship between these two diseases remains controversial. In addition, limited evidence is available regarding the age-dependent and time-dependent effects on the association of depression and ED. Aim We investigated the hypothesis that ED increases the risk of depression by using a nationwide Taiwanese population-based claims database. In addition, we assessed the age-dependent and time-dependent effects on the association of depression and ED. Methods A longitudinal cohort study was conducted to determine the association between patients with ED and depression development during a 5-year follow-up period, using claims data from the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Main Outcome Measures The study cohort comprised patients who were diagnosed with ED during 1997 to 2005 (N = 2,527). For a comparison cohort, 5 age- and sex-matched patients for every patient in the study cohort were selected using random sampling (N = 12,635). All of the patients were followed-up for 5 years from the date of cohort entry to identify the development of depression. Results The main finding of this study was that patients with ED are at an increased risk of developing depression. The adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) for depression was 2.24-fold higher in the patients with ED than in the comparison cohort (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.83–2.74; P < 0.001). Regarding the time-dependent effect, the incidence of depression was highest during the first year of follow-up (AHR: 3.03, 95% CI = 2.08–4.40; P < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrates that patients with ED are at a higher longitudinal risk of developing depression in Asian men, particularly within the first year after the diagnosis of ED.

Prevalence, Risk Factors and Assessment of Depressive Symptoms in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

“…Even though females are more likely to suffer from depression 31 and males are less frequently affected by SSc, we were still surprised that there were no males present in the subgroup of patients with depressive symptoms. Particularly knowing that male patients with SSc often suffer from erectile dysfunction, 32 which in turn can be responsible for a higher likelihood of developing depression, 33 this result came as a surprise. It is possible that the low case number of male patients (n=12) in our study might be responsible for this result and that higher case numbers might lead to a different result.…”

Cognitive Behavioral Sex Therapy: An Emerging Treatment Option for Nonorganic Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men: A Feasibility Pilot Study

“… 29 The ED may increase the risk of developing depression by 8.7–43.1% as compared to those who do not have ED. 29 , 30 On the other hand, there are some antidepressant drugs belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class which are known to increase the risk of developing ED. One of these drugs is paroxetine.…”

Hip Fracture in People with Erectile Dysfunction: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

“…In a longitudinal study of Asian men with ED, Chou et al reported a high risk of developing depression, particularly within 1 year of ED diagnosis. Chou et al also reported that patients with ED had a 2.24-fold higher HR for developing depression compared to controls without ED [ 31 ]. Diem et al reported that depression symptoms in elderly males are associated with an approximately 1.8-fold increase in the annualised rate of bone loss in the hip, femoral neck, and trochanter bones [ 33 ].…”