Interactions Between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Determine Distinct Patterns of Erectile Dysfunction: A Latent Class Analysis

In 2013, a study involving 898 men undergoing prostate cancer screening found that interactions between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and cardiovascular risk factors were significant predictors of erectile dysfunction (ED). Using latent class analysis, three distinct groups were identified based on the severity of ED and the presence of risk factors: younger men with low cardiovascular risk and higher LUTS prevalence (Class 1), older men with moderate cardiovascular risk and increased LUTS (Class 2), and men of intermediate age with the highest cardiovascular risk and LUTS (Class 3). The study concluded that the severity of ED and LUTS increased from Class 1 to Class 3 and that understanding the interactions between LUTS and cardiovascular risk factors could help tailor specific treatment strategies for different patient groups.