Erectile dysfunction and associated factors in males with psoriasis: a case-control study

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease associated with multiple comorbidities, including erectile dysfunction (ED). Data on the sexual health of male psoriasis patients in Vietnam are limited. We investigated the prevalence and severity of ED in male psoriasis patients compared with healthy individuals and explored potential associations between ED and psoriasis-related clinical characteristics. This case-control study included 135 male psoriasis patients and 166 healthy individuals aged ≥18 years and limited to those sexually active within the last 6 months. The 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to assess ED risk and severity. Psoriasis patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of ED than controls (80.7% vs. 67.5%, p=0.01), with increased risk of moderate-to-severe ED. Age, obesity, age of psoriasis onset, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), and genital lesions were associated with ED. Advanced age and elevated PASI scores were independent risk factors for ED (p<0.05). Hence, psoriasis is a risk factor for ED. Additionally, ED may serve as an early indicator of cardiovascular risk in male patients with psoriasis.