Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden

Altuğ Güner; Sümeyye Tuna Güner; Taner Dandinoğlu; Olgun Deniz; Alev Alp; Lale Altan

Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden

Abstract

Aims: To investigate sexual dysfunction in male patients with axial spondyloarthritis and to identify clinical factors associated with erectile dysfunction (ED). Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included 69 male patients with axial spondyloarthritis and 40 age-matched healthy male controls. Associations between ED and clinical factors, including disease activity, functional status, spinal mobility, neuropathic pain features and treatment modalities were evaluated. Results: ED was significantly more frequent and more severe in patients with axial spondyloarthritis than in healthy controls. Sexual desire was also significantly lower in the patient group. Among patients with axial spondyloarthritis, those with ED had poorer disease-specific quality of life, more prominent neuropathic pain features and greater spinal mobility limitation. Erectile function (EF) was negatively correlated with functional impairment, reduced spinal mobility and poorer quality of life. Although several variables were associated with ED in univariate analyses, none remained independently significant in the multivariable model, suggesting that ED may reflect the cumulative impact of multiple interrelated domains of disease burden rather than a single isolated factor. Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction appears to be a common and multifactorial problem in male patients with axial spondyloarthritis, reflecting the broader impact of functional limitation, pain-related features, and reduced quality of life rather than inflammatory activity alone. These findings underscore the clinical value of incorporating sexual health assessment into routine care as part of a more holistic and patient-centered approach to management.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

No institutional or financial support was received for this study.

Project Number

none

Ethical Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine (Approval No: 2021-3/44; Date: February 3, 2021). Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Thanks

The authors sincerely thank all participants for their valuable contribution to this study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Rheumatology and Arthritis

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Altuğ Güner ^*
0000-0001-7220-0288
Türkiye

Sümeyye Tuna Güner
0009-0002-5923-6416
Türkiye

Taner Dandinoğlu
0000-0002-6010-7315
Türkiye

Olgun Deniz
0000-0001-5025-6344
Türkiye

Alev Alp
0000-0002-3904-5463
Türkiye

Lale Altan
0000-0002-6453-8382
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 16, 2026

Submission Date

May 17, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Güner, A., Tuna Güner, S., Dandinoğlu, T., Deniz, O., Alp, A., & Altan, L. (2026). Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, 8(4), 725-732. https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU

AMA

1.Güner A, Tuna Güner S, Dandinoğlu T, Deniz O, Alp A, Altan L. Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8(4):725-732. https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU

Chicago

Güner, Altuğ, Sümeyye Tuna Güner, Taner Dandinoğlu, Olgun Deniz, Alev Alp, and Lale Altan. 2026. “Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Beyond Inflammatory Activity Toward Neuropathic Pain and Multidimensional Disease Burden”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 (4): 725-32. https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU.

EndNote

Güner A, Tuna Güner S, Dandinoğlu T, Deniz O, Alp A, Altan L (July 1, 2026) Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8 4 725–732.

IEEE

[1]A. Güner, S. Tuna Güner, T. Dandinoğlu, O. Deniz, A. Alp, and L. Altan, “Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden”, Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj, vol. 8, no. 4, pp. 725–732, July 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU

ISNAD

Güner, Altuğ - Tuna Güner, Sümeyye - Dandinoğlu, Taner - Deniz, Olgun - Alp, Alev - Altan, Lale. “Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Beyond Inflammatory Activity Toward Neuropathic Pain and Multidimensional Disease Burden”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal 8/4 (July 1, 2026): 725-732. https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU.

JAMA

1.Güner A, Tuna Güner S, Dandinoğlu T, Deniz O, Alp A, Altan L. Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj. 2026;8:725–732.

MLA

Güner, Altuğ, et al. “Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Axial Spondyloarthritis: Beyond Inflammatory Activity Toward Neuropathic Pain and Multidimensional Disease Burden”. Anatolian Current Medical Journal, vol. 8, no. 4, July 2026, pp. 725-32, https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU.

Vancouver

1.Altuğ Güner, Sümeyye Tuna Güner, Taner Dandinoğlu, Olgun Deniz, Alev Alp, Lale Altan. Erectile dysfunction in men with axial spondyloarthritis: beyond inflammatory activity toward neuropathic pain and multidimensional disease burden. Anatolian Curr Med J / ACMJ / acmj [Internet]. 2026 Jul. 1;8(4):725-32. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA42ZZ92PU