Zhang Weiqian, Qu Rui, Cheng Guan, Wang Jingxuan, Yin Tailang, Liu Jue, Tang Dongdong, Zhang Yan
Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
Toxics. 2025 Jan 6;13(1):39. doi: 10.3390/toxics13010039.
The effect of the long-term persistently elevated air pollutants, often referred to as air pollution waves, on sexual function has not been sufficiently addressed.
This nationwide cross-sectional study involved 12,157 participants, with 5496 females and 5039 males. PM waves were characterized by daily average PM concentrations surpassing Grade II thresholds of China's ambient air quality standards (PM > 75 μg/m, PM > 150 μg/m) for three or more consecutive days (3-8 days). Male sexual function was assessed through the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) and the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT), while female sexual function was evaluated using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). A multivariate linear regression model was employed to investigate the link between PM wave exposure and sexual function.
Exposure to PM waves, defined as 3 (β = -0.0145, 95%CI = -0.0280, -0.0010), 4 (β = -0.0145, 95%CI = -0.0280, -0.0010), 5 (β = -0.0193, 95%CI = -0.0371, -0.0015), 6 (β = -0.0218, 95%CI = -0.0415, -0.0021), 7 (β = -0.0243, 95%CI = -0.0458, -0.0028), and 8 (β = -0.0243, 95%CI = -0.0458, -0.0028) consecutive days, negatively impacted IIEF-5 scores and male sexual function. Moreover, depression levels, as evaluated by the PHQ-9, played a mediating role in the connection between PM waves and IIEF-5 scores. The potentially vulnerable subgroups were the younger 20-30 and the low-income groups.
Our results suggest for the first time that PM waves are associated with decreased IIEF-5 scores, which are mediated by depression score PHQ-9, informing policy formulation for public health interventions and individual safeguarding.
长期持续升高的空气污染物，常被称为空气污染波，对性功能的影响尚未得到充分研究。
这项全国性横断面研究涉及12157名参与者，其中女性5496名，男性5039名。空气污染波的特征是每日平均颗粒物浓度连续三天或更多天（3 - 8天）超过中国环境空气质量标准二级阈值（PM＞75μg/m，PM＞150μg/m）。男性性功能通过国际勃起功能指数-5（IIEF - 5）和早泄诊断工具（PEDT）进行评估，而女性性功能则使用女性性功能指数（FSFI）进行评估。采用多元线性回归模型研究空气污染波暴露与性功能之间的联系。
暴露于空气污染波，即连续3（β = -0.0145，95%CI = -0.0280， -0.0010）、4（β = -0.0145，95%CI = -0.0280， -0.0010）、5（β = -0.0193，95%CI = -0.0371， -0.0015）、6（β = -0.0218，95%CI = -0.0415， -0.0021）、7（β = -0.0243，95%CI = -0.0458， -0.0028）和8（β = -0.0243，95%CI = -0.0458， -0.0028）天，对IIEF - 5评分和男性性功能产生负面影响。此外，通过PHQ - 9评估的抑郁水平在空气污染波与IIEF - 5评分之间的联系中起中介作用。潜在的脆弱亚组是20 - 30岁的年轻人和低收入群体。
我们的结果首次表明，空气污染波与IIEF - 5评分降低有关，这由抑郁评分PHQ - 9介导，为公共卫生干预和个人防护的政策制定提供了依据。
