title: [Erectile dysfunction and its severity are related to the number of cardiovascular risk factors].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very common condition in the general population. ED is closely related to Hypertension (HT), Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Dyslipidemia (DLP) and Metabolic Syndrome (MS). This study has aimed to clarify whether the presence and severity of ED are related to the presence and number of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed the characteristics of 242 males referred to our center for a prostate biopsy from September 2007 to December 2009. The following variables were collected prospectively: age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), AHT, DM, DLP and obesity (BMI<30 kg/m(2)). The Erection Hardness Score Questionnaire was used to assess erectile function. We analyzed the relation between the presence and severity of ED and the presence of HT, DM, DLP and obesity. We analyzed the clinical variables based on the presence or absence of ED and in relationship to its severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of ED was related to HT (OR: 1.805 [1.128-2.887]; p=0.013), DM (OR 3.585 [1.613-7.966]; p=0.001) and Dyslipidemia (OR: 1.928 [1.062-3.500]; p=0.029). Erectile function was not related to Obesity (OR: 0.929 [0.522-1.632]; p=0.795). Patients with ED were more likely to have more CVRF (p=0.009) and the severity of ED was related to the presence of HT (p<0.001), DM (p<0.001), DLP (p=0.001) and the number of CVRF (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence and severity of ED correlate with the presence of HT, DM, Dyslipidemia and the number of DVRF.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Urología, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, España. edu_garcia_cruz@yahoo.com
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Cruz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gosálbez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez-Márquez
authors.forename: Ll
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Vijande
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alcaraz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index