The effect of interleukin‐6 level at the time of hospitalisation on erectile functions in hospitalised patients with COVID‐19

Abstract

We evaluated the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and IL‐6 levels in males with COVID‐19. The study included 80 male patients aged 30–45 years who were hospitalised due to COVID‐19. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) questionnaire was used to assess erectile function. The IIEF‐5 questionnaire was re‐administered at a 3‐month control visit after discharge, and the change score from baseline was recorded. The patients were divided into three groups according to the IIEF‐5 score at 3 months as Group 1 (severe ED), Group 2 (moderate ED) and Group 3 (no ED), and into two groups according to IL‐6 level at the time of admission as Group A (IL‐6 ≤ 50 ng/ml) and Group B (IL‐6 > 50 ng/ml). The change in the IIEF‐5 score (p < .001) was significantly greater in Group B than in Group A. There was also significant difference in IL‐6 between Group 1 and Group 2 (p = .008). The correlation analysis revealed a moderate correlation between IL‐6 level and the change in IIEF‐5 score and D‐dimer level (r:0.529, p < .001) and a weak correlation between IL‐6 level and FSH (r:0.309, p = .005). The present study suggests that elevated IL‐6 levels in male patients hospitalised due to COVID‐19 might be related to the risk of developing ED.

Male reproductive health after 3 months from SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicentric study

“…Recent reports highlighted the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection and increased prevalence of ED [ 50 , 51 ]. Sivitrepe et al investigated the presence of ED after three months of hospital discharge for COVID-19 detecting a further worsening of IIEF scores compared to the scores at hospital admission, linking this worsening to IL-6 levels [ 52 ]. Unfortunately, the recruited subject also had high glycemic levels, suggesting diabetes and cardiometabolic comorbidities as possible confounders.…”

Impact of COVID-19 on male urogenital health: Success of vaccines

“… 111 Hospitalized male COVID-19 patients usually have elevated levels of IL-6, which most probably contributes to the development of ED. 112 The cytokine storm in some COVID-19 patients could lead to vascular endothelial cell apoptosis in a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent manner, 113 which could also lead to the development of ED. Higher levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1b are indicators of a greater risk of vascular dysfunction in hypogonadal patients.…”

Advanced Molecular and Immunological Diagnostic Methods to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Infection

“…Unusual symptoms include nasal congestion, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, conjunctivitis, pains and aches, as well as loss of taste and smell, lymphopenia, and prolonged symptomatic experience with antimicrobial therapy (at least 3 days) [6,13]. COVID-19 has also been associated with coagulation disorders, secondary bacterial infections, immunodeficiency and myocardial as well as hepatic, and renal injury [14,15]. The spectrum of symptoms is currently widening due to the identification of other effects of the disease, such as Long-COVID and Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare and severe complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection that can affect the paediatric population [16,17].…”