Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes, hypertension, or both diseases: A community survey among 1,412 Israeli men

Abstract

SummaryBackground: Erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors and may be further aggravated by medical treatment for reducing them.Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of ED in patients with diabetes (DM), hypertension (HTN), or both diseases, and to evaluate the effect of patient age, medical treatment, and disease duration and control on the prevalence of ED in this population.Methods: A group of 150 primary practitioners who had patients with known DM and/or HTN conducted a survey, utilizing IIEF-15, a 15-item multidimensional, self-administered questionnaire used for the clinical assessment of ED.Results: In all, 1,412 patients were included: 37% had DM, 38% had HTN, and 25% had both diseases. Their mean age was 55, 58, and 60 years, and 62, 46, and 67% had some degree of ED, respectively. The prevalence of ED increased with age and disease duration in each age group and was higher in subjects with DM than in those with HTN, especially in those aged < 65 years. Poor glycemic control was associated with a higher prevalence rate of ED early in the course of the disease. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of ED according to type and number of antihypertensive drugs.

Raising awareness for the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients with high risk to develop ED

“…[1][2][3] Diagnosis and treatment of ED is known to increase patients' satisfaction and may even lead to the improvement in patients' compliance with other comorbidities. 7 This study investigated the possibility of increasing the rates of ED diagnosis and treatment following a short course and the use of computerized lists of high-risk patients.…”

“…[1][2][3] Diabetes and hypertension are the two major-risk factors for ED, as are the medical treatments related to these diseases. Such patients are prone to ED by more than 50% after age adjustment.…”

“…Such patients are prone to ED by more than 50% after age adjustment. 1,4 In contrast, ED might also be the presenting symptom of other serious medical conditions, such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, depression or anxiety. Thus, it is well established that inquiring about ED is an important part of the medical history.…”

“…Thus, it is well established that inquiring about ED is an important part of the medical history. 5 Primary care physicians (PCPs) encounter many such patients in common practice; 1,6 however, ED is not always diagnosed or even discussed during the medical interview. Physicians' attention to such patients may improve ED diagnosis, and thus improve patients' satisfaction and provide an important tool in medical diagnosis.…”

Characterization of corpus cavernosum smooth muscle cell phenotype in diabetic rats with erectile dysfunction

“…CCSM cell relaxation mediated by parasympathetic neurotransmission, nitric oxide, electrophysiological events and possibly other regulatory factors is necessary for normal penile erection. 5 It has been observed that the CCSM cell mass was lost in diabetic rats with ED, and the remaining SM cells were unable to achieve sufficient relaxation to attain the high intracorporeal pressures that are necessary for the passive occlusion of the veins that egress the corporal bodies as they traverse underneath and through the tunica albuginea of the penis. 6,7 Therefore, the better understanding of CCSM cells may be useful to elucidate the pathophysiological process of diabetic ED.…”