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The effects of social isolation measures taken against the COVID-19 pandemic on erectile functions of healthcare professionals: a prospective comparative study


1. University of Health Sciences, Regional Training and Research Hospital, Department of Urology, Erzurum, Turkey

2. University of Health Sciences, Regional Training and Research Hospital, Department of Infection Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Erzurum, Turkey

3. University of Health Sciences, Regional Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Erzurum, Turkey

4. University of Health Sciences, Regional Training and Research Hospital, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Erzurum, Turkey

5. Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Erzurum, Turkey


DOI : 10.33719/yud.2022;17-2-1064135
New J Urol. 2022; 17(2):74-82
ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals with different duties, such as doctors, nurses, medical secretaries, and medical staff, causes erectile dysfunction (ED).
Material and Methods: In between 1 May 2020 and 1 August 2020, volunteering male health workers who had regular sexual intercourse at least once a week for the last six months and who had not previously worked in COVID-19 clinics were included in the study. Before and 4 weeks after working in COVID-19 clinics, erectile function was determined by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) form. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAS) was used to evaluate anxiety disorders and their severity.
Results: A total of 218 male health caregivers were included in the study. Among these, 56 (25.7%) were doctors, 81 (37.2%) were nurses, 46 (21.1%) were medical secretaries and 35 (16.1%) were the medical staff. The mean HAM-A score of the doctors measured 4 weeks after having worked in a COVID-19 clinic (3,32±4,68) was observed to be significantly higher compared to that measured before working (28,43±14,05) (p<0.001). The mean IIEF-5 scores of the doctors measured 4 weeks after having worked in a COVID-19 clinic (16,34±4,11) was observed to be significantly lower compared to that measured before working (22,29±2,35) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 clinics have increased anxiety and ED, and physicians are affected more than the other healthcare professionals. 

Keywords: COVID-19, health professionals, erectile dysfunction, anxiety, hamilton anxiety scale

ABSTRACT

Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether the anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare professionals with different duties, such as doctors, nurses, medical secretaries, and medical staff, causes erectile dysfunction (ED).
Material and Methods: In between 1 May 2020 and 1 August 2020, volunteering male health workers who had regular sexual intercourse at least once a week for the last six months and who had not previously worked in COVID-19 clinics were included in the study. Before and 4 weeks after working in COVID-19 clinics, erectile function was determined by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) form. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAS) was used to evaluate anxiety disorders and their severity.
Results: A total of 218 male health caregivers were included in the study. Among these, 56 (25.7%) were doctors, 81 (37.2%) were nurses, 46 (21.1%) were medical secretaries and 35 (16.1%) were the medical staff. The mean HAM-A score of the doctors measured 4 weeks after having worked in a COVID-19 clinic (3,32±4,68) was observed to be significantly higher compared to that measured before working (28,43±14,05) (p<0.001). The mean IIEF-5 scores of the doctors measured 4 weeks after having worked in a COVID-19 clinic (16,34±4,11) was observed to be significantly lower compared to that measured before working (22,29±2,35) (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Our results indicate that healthcare professionals working in COVID-19 clinics have increased anxiety and ED, and physicians are affected more than the other healthcare professionals. 

Keywords: COVID-19, health professionals, erectile dysfunction, anxiety, hamilton anxiety scale

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