The relationship between erectile dysfunction and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine and blood urea nitrogen/albumin ratios: A case-control study.

Abstract

Introduction: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine (Cr) and BUN/albumin ratios are used in the evaluation of many diseases that can be associated with ED. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between ED and BUN/Cr and BUN/albumin ratios and compare them to healthy peers.

Material and methods: Total of 1,664 patients diagnosed with ED between January 2020 and August 2024 were accessed and retrospectively examined. Six hundred and seventy-two male patients with IIEF-5 score below 22 and complaining of ED were included in the study. Ninety-six patients without ED complaints were selected as the control group. Control and ED groups were compared in terms of BUN/Cr and BUN/Albumin ratio values and other biochemical and hormonal parameters.

Results: BUN/Cr value was calculated as 27.63 ±12.3 in the ED group and 17.52 ±5.1 in the control group (p <0.001). The AUC value of this ratio was calculated as 0.745 and its sensitivity was found to be 32% and specificity was found to be 98%. BUN/albumin ratio was calculated as 6.03 ±5.8 in the ED group and 3.54 ±1.2 in the control group (p <0.001). The AUC value of this ratio was found to be 0.718, its sensitivity was 43% and its specificity was 98%. The BUN/Cr ratio of all ED subgroups was significantly higher than control group, and BUN/albumin value was significantly higher in mild, moderate and severe groups.

Conclusions: In this study, it was calculated that the risk of ED was higher in patients with BUN/Cr ratio >33.92 and BUN/albumin ratio >5.80, and both values had high specificity.