New York, NY (AHN)-A new study finds that regardless of the reason for taking them, painkillers classified as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) apparently increase the likelihood that middle-aged and elderly men will develop erection difficulties.

NSAIDs include several widely used drugs, such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

The study, published in the Journal of Urology, found that the erectile dysfunction rate was 93 cases per 1000 persons per year among NSAID users compared with just 35 cases among nonusers.

Arthritis was the most common reason for NSAID use, and for men with arthritis the corresponding rates of erectile disorder were 97 and 52 per 1000 person-years.

According to the report, for whatever reason they were taken, NSAIDs roughly doubled the risk of erectile dysfunction compared with non-use.