Evaluation of the Relationship Between Erectile Dysfunction and Pericardial and Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness

Öz

Patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) may exhibit early signs of endothelial and vascular impairment even in the absence of overt cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) thickness measured by transthoracic echocardiography and the severity of ED in patients without known systemic comorbidities. The medical records of 58 male patients presenting with ED were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, or other significant systemic disorders were excluded. According to International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores, patients were divided into two groups as moderate-to-severe ED (Group 1, n=27) and mild ED-to-normal erectile function (Group 2, n=31). Demographic characteristics including age, height, weight, and body mass index were similar between the groups. However, significant differences were observed regarding cardiac adiposity measurements. Mean EAT thickness was significantly higher in Group 1 compared with Group 2 (0.75±0.19 mm vs. 0.53±0.18 mm, p=0.0015). Similarly, PAT thickness was greater in Group 1 than in Group 2 (0.85±0.11 mm vs. 0.61±0.17 mm, p<0.001). Although body mass index did not differ significantly between groups, increased local cardiac fat thickness appeared to be associated with ED severity. These findings suggest that echocardiographic assessment of EAT and PAT may provide a simple and non-invasive marker for identifying subclinical vascular risk in patients with ED.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Erectile dysfunction
• Epicardial adipose tissue
• Pericardial adipose tissue
• Echocardiography
• Vascular risk.

Destekleyen Kurum

“N/A” (Not Applicable

Proje Numarası

“N/A” (Not Applicable

Etik Beyan

Ethics Committee Approval Information: Approving Committee: Mudanya University Health Sciences Ethics Committee Approval Date: 02.03.2026 Decision No: E-40839601-50.04-61

Teşekkür

We would like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nurullah Ay from the Mudanya University for his contribution to the statistical analysis.

Erektil Disfonksiyon ile Perikardiyal ve Epikardiyal Adipoz Doku Kalınlığı Arasındaki İlişkinin Değerlendirilmesi

Öz

Erektil disfonksiyonlu (ED) hastalarda, belirgin kardiyovasküler hastalık bulunmasa bile endotelyal ve vasküler bozukluğun erken belirtileri görülebilmektedir. Bu çalışmada, bilinen sistemik komorbiditesi olmayan ED hastalarında transtorasik ekokardiyografi ile ölçülen epikardiyal adipoz doku (EAT) ve perikardiyal adipoz doku (PAT) kalınlığı ile ED şiddeti arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması amaçlandı. ED şikâyeti ile başvuran 58 erkek hastanın tıbbi kayıtları retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hipertansiyon, diyabetes mellitus, koroner arter hastalığı veya diğer önemli sistemik hastalıkları bulunan olgular çalışma dışı bırakıldı. Hastalar Uluslararası Erektil Fonksiyon İndeksi-5 (IIEF-5) skorlarına göre orta-ağır ED (Grup 1, n=27) ve hafif ED-normal erektil fonksiyon (Grup 2, n=31) olmak üzere iki gruba ayrıldı. Gruplar yaş, boy, kilo ve vücut kitle indeksi açısından benzerdi. Ancak kardiyak yağlanma ölçümleri açısından anlamlı farklılıklar saptandı. Ortalama EAT kalınlığı Grup 1’de Grup 2’ye göre anlamlı derecede yüksekti (0,75±0,19 mm’ye karşı 0,53±0,18 mm; p=0,0015). Benzer şekilde PAT kalınlığı da Grup 1’de Grup 2’ye kıyasla daha yüksekti (0,85±0,11 mm’ye karşı 0,61±0,17 mm; p<0,001). Vücut kitle indeksi açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı fark bulunmamasına rağmen, artmış lokal kardiyak yağ dokusu kalınlığının ED şiddeti ile ilişkili olabileceği görüldü. Bu bulgular, EAT ve PAT’ın ekokardiyografik değerlendirilmesinin ED hastalarında subklinik vasküler riskin belirlenmesinde basit ve non-invaziv bir belirteç olarak kullanılabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Erektil disfonksiyon
• Epikardiyal adipoz doku
• Perikardiyal adipoz doku
• Ekokardiyografi
• Vasküler risk.

Destekleyen Kurum

Geçerli değil

Proje Numarası

“N/A” (Not Applicable

Etik Beyan

Etik Kurul Onay Bilgisi: Onaylayan Kurul: Mudanya Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Etik Kurulu Onay Tarihi: 02.03.2026 Karar No: E-40839601-50.04-61

Teşekkür

Mudanya Üniversitesi’nden Doç. Dr. Nurullah Ay’a istatistiksel analiz sürecine katkılarından dolayı teşekkür ederiz.

Kaynakça

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