title: The effect of non-dipper pattern of hypertension on erectile dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and non-dipper pattern in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 750 consecutive patients with essential hypertension, who had been evaluated with ambulatory BP monitoring, were screened for this study. One hundred and thirty-two male patients (age range 28-54 years) who had fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria were included in the final analysis. Dipper and non-dipper patterns were detected and sexual function was assessed by the self-administered questionnaire of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the number of medications taken and the proportion of each class of antihypertensive medications. Mean age, body mass index, lipid profiles, rate of smoking were similar between the two groups. IIEF score was significantly higher in non-dippers than dippers (p= 0.009). Non-dipping was also found to be an independent determinant for ED.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of the present study further suggests that non-dipping is a risk indicator for early deterioration of erectile function in hypertensive patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Düzce Medical School, Duzce University, Konuralp Düzce, Turkey. iserdemus@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozhan
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ordu
authors.forename: Subhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caglar
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kayikci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology