(563) Relationships of Impaired Grip Strength and Gait Function with Erectile Dysfunction Severity in Men on Dialysis

Introduction Impaired muscle strength and gait function are frequently observed in men undergoing dialysis. These conditions share the same risk factors with erectile dysfunction (ED), such as age, endothelial dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, and hormonal disturbances. Therefore, we hypothesized that impaired muscle strength and gait function might contribute to the severity of ED in men undergoing dialysis. Objective This study aimed to investigate the associations of impaired muscle strength and gait function with the severity of ED in men undergoing dialysis. Methods This cross-sectional study included 63 men undergoing dialysis. ED was assessed with the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). Patients were divided into the mild/moderate (SHIM score≥8) and severe ED groups (SHIM score ≤7). Correlations between variables were analyzed usingSpearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of impaired grip strength and gait function on the severity of ED. Results The median age of the study participants was 62 years; all had ED, with 67% having severe ED. Spearman’s rank correlation test demonstrated significant negative and positive correlations between gait function and SHIM score (ρ = −0.257, P = 0.042) and between grip strength and SHIM score (ρ = 0.305, P = 0.015), respectively. In the multivariable analyses, impaired grip strength was significantly associated with severe ED (odds ratio [OR]: 4.965, P = 0.017), whereas gait function was not (OR: 3.147, P = 0.064). Conclusions Impaired muscle strength was significantly associated with severe ED, whereas impaired gait function had a marginal effect on this erectile condition. Disclosure No