Association between insulin resistance-related metabolic disorders and erectile dysfunction assessed by the IIEF-15: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A.K. Kairgali, Raisa A. Aringazina, M.K. Jakanov, Abdolreza Haghpanah, M.N. Sarkulov

2026

Full text Open access: Hybrid Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.37800/rm.1.2026.673
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

Relevance: Erectile dysfunction is common among men. In addition, it is considered an important problem that increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, together with psychosocial disorders. Metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance, namely metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus, are among the main risk factors for erectile dysfunction. However, standardized instruments proving this association are still limited. The study aimed to determine the association between insulin resistance-related metabolic disorders and erectile dysfunction in adult men, as assessed using the IIEF-15 questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the Scopus and Web of Science databases to perform the meta-analysis. Cross-sectional studies in men with insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders that assessed erectile function using the IIEF-15 questionnaire were included. Data from the erectile function domain were pooled using a random-effects model, and mean differences and confidence intervals were calculated. The results were presented as a forest plot. Results: A total of five original studies were included in the meta-analysis. The analysis included 1,716 men. The results of the meta-analysis showed that erectile function scores were significantly lower in men with insulin resistance–related metabolic disorders compared with the control group. A statistically significant decrease in erectile function was observed. However, substantial heterogeneity was identified among the included studies. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed a significant association between insulin resistance-related metabolic disorders and impaired erectile function in adult men. The obtained results indicate that erectile dysfunction can be considered a potential clinical manifestation of metabolic disorders and highlight the importance of conducting well-designed prospective studies in the future to clarify the temporal relationship between metabolic disorders and erectile dysfunction.