The burden of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive men attending a general out patient unit in a rural Nigerian hospital

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is often cited as a cause of erectile dysfuntion (ED) which is currently known to be a risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Both ED and CAD lower the quality of life of affected men.

Objectives: To study the characteristics of men with hypertension-associated ED and to determine the ED burden in hypertension in this rural community.

Design: Questionnaire based cohort study.

Setting: The General Out Patient unit of Irrua Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Subjects: Men attending the General Out Patient Unit during the study period for diagnosis and treatment of hypertension and who consented to the study.

Outcome Measure: The burden of ED in hypertensive men and the characteristics of such men.

Result: Two hundred and forty two respondents correctly filled and submitted the questionnaire. Fifty four (22.41%) were newly diagnosed, un treated while 188(77.59%) had been on treatment. In the untreated group, 40(74.07%) and in the treated group, 166(86.20%) had some degree of ED compared to 57.4% in the general population. Age(p=0.000), BMI(P=0.010)in the newly diagnosed group and age(p=0.001), duration of treatment(p=0.009) and co-morbidities(p=0.010) in the treated group were risk factors for ED. Majority of the men(80.30%) were on combination therapy.

Conclusion: ED is common among hypertensive men, treated or untreated. Considering the socio-economic and clinical effects of CAD for which ED is a fore runner, physicians should endeavour to obtain a sexual history when evaluating these men as a preventive measure against feature cardiovascular event.