(032) Association Between Autoimmune Diseases and Male Reproductive Health: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Introduction The relationship between autoimmune diseases (ADs) and male reproductive health is easily neglected. Epidemiological studies indicated that multiple ADs may adversely affect male reproductive health. Objective This study aimed to explore the causal relationship between ADs and erectile dysfunction (ED), abnormal spermatozoa, and sex hormones using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods We selected 12 common ADs as exposures, with outcomes including ED, abnormal spermatozoa, and sex hormones. The selection of instrumental variables was based on summary statistics from European GWAS studies. A combination of multiple methods was performed for MR analysis of the above data, with the inverse-variance weighted method being the main method. We also conducted several sensitivity analyses to verify the reliability of the results. In addition, clinical data of patients were collected to verify the analysis results. Results Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease (CD) were associated with an increased risk of ED (IBD, OR: 1.101, 95% CI: 1.016-1.194, P = 0.019; CD, OR: 1.086, 95% CI: 1.012-1.165, P = 0.022). Asthma was positively causally related to abnormal spermatozoa (OR: 1.270, 95% CI: 1.045-1.545, P = 0.017), but negatively causally related to total testosterone (β: -0.042, 95% CI: -0.057 - -0.027, P < 0.001). Detection of sensitivity analysis supported findings related to ED and abnormal spermatozoa. In addition, clinical statistical data of patients with ED and abnormal sperm in our hospital preliminarily confirmed the correlation between impaired reproductive function and the above-mentioned exposures. Conclusions This study supported the role of IBD and CD in ED. Asthma was also found to be associated with abnormal spermatozoa, and possibly affected total testosterone levels in the process. Our results contributed to targeted prevention and treatment of the above diseases and promoted male reproductive health. Disclosure No