Objective: To investigate the clinical implication of the sexual functions of male patients diagnosed with chronic migraine (CM) compared with the healthy population.
Study design: Observational study.
Place and duration of study: Departments of Urology and Neurology, Hitit University Hospital, Turkey, from August 2019 to August 2020.
Methodology: A total of 179 patients (92 subjects diagnosed with CM and 87 control healthy volunteers) were included in this study. Demographic descriptive data including age, height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) of all patients were recorded. A 5-question version of the international index of erectile function questionnaire (IIEF-5) was applied to evaluate their sexual functions. Furthermore, a migraine identification test was performed for CM patients for the diagnosis of migraine in accordance with the International Headache Society's (IHS) definition of chronic migraine. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores between 0-10 points were recorded for the qualitative assessment of migraine pain.
Results: The IIEF-5 scores of CM patients [16 (11 - 21)] were lower compared to the control patients [21 (19 - 23), p <0.001)]. A negative correlation was found between the VAS scores and IIEF-5 scores of CM patients (rho -0.582, p <0.001). In the regression analysis, it was found that a 1-unit increase in the VAS score led to a 1.5 point decrease in the IIEF-5 score (p <0.001).
Conclusion: Migraine pain in male patients with CM adversely affected erectile functions. A more detailed investigation of the pathophysiological mechanisms may be helpful in the treatment of ED.
Key words: Erectile dysfunction, Chronic migraine, IIEF-5, Erectile functions.