Effects of heart failure and coronary artery disease on erectile dysfunction: a two-sample mendelian randomization study

Background and aims There are no clear conclusions as to whether heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CAD) increase the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED).

In our study, we used Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to discover a causal relationship between HF, CAD and ED.

Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with HF, CAD and ED were obtained from the MRC IEU Open Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) database.After a series of screenings, the remaining SNPs were selected as instrumental variables (IVs) for HF and CAD for MR analysis to assess the relationship between genetically predicted HF or CAD and the pathogenesis of ED.Among them, we used the random-effects inverse variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis method.Finally, Cochran’s q-test, funnel plots, MR-Egger regression, Leave-one-out method and MR-PRESSO were used for sensitivity analysis.

Results In the IVW method, there was no significant causal relationship between genetically predicted HF and CAD and the incidence of ED.

(HF: OR = 1.17, 95% CI 0.99–1.39; p = 0.074;CAD: OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.99–1.17, p = 0.068)。

The results of sensitivity analyses supported our conclusion that no horizontal pleiotropism was found.

Conclusion This study did not find a causal relationship between HF or CAD and ED in European populations, which requires further in-depth research.