title: Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in a cohort of Italian hypertensive subjects.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a cohort of Italian hypertensive men and the association with clinical and biochemical data. The study involved 270 consecutive hypertensive subjects aged 40-70 years evaluated in Italian Hypertension Centers of six hospitals from Liguria and Piedmont. ED was assessed through the self-administered questionnaire of the International Index of Erectile Function. Clinical history with ongoing drug treatment, various clinical parameters, biochemical data and evidence about the presence of subclinical target organ damage was collected. Twenty-seven subjects refused to answer the questionnaire (10%). Among the 243 remained subjects, 123 presented ED (50.6%). ED was highly related to age, systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, smoking status, statin therapy and kidney function. The addition of a thiazide diuretic to an inhibitor of the renin-angiotensin system significantly increased the prevalence of ED. The prevalence of ED increased in relation with the number of hypotensive drug classes taken by the patients. ED was highly prevalent in this cohort of Italian hypertensive subjects and was associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, such as age, smoking status and kidney function. The role of ED as an early marker of cardiovascular disease is discussed.
authors.affiliation: a Clinic of Internal Medicine 1, University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy .
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Artom
authors.affiliation: b Division of Internal Medicine , Cottolengo Hospital , Turin , Italy .|c Division of Internal Medicine , Cardinal Massaia Hospital , Asti , Italy .
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pinna
authors.affiliation: a Clinic of Internal Medicine 1, University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy .
authors.forename: Natale R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.affiliation: d Division of Internal Medicine , Sant' Andrea Hospital , La Spezia , Italy .
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Orlandini
authors.affiliation: d Division of Internal Medicine , Sant' Andrea Hospital , La Spezia , Italy .
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malasoma
authors.affiliation: e Division of Internal Medicine , Santa Corona Hospital , Pietra Ligure , Italy .
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uccelli
authors.affiliation: e Division of Internal Medicine , Santa Corona Hospital , Pietra Ligure , Italy .
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Artom
authors.affiliation: f Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension Unit , University of Turin , Turin , Italy , and.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rabbia
authors.affiliation: b Division of Internal Medicine , Cottolengo Hospital , Turin , Italy .
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pascale
authors.affiliation: g Biostatistics Unit, Health Science Department, University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lantieri
authors.affiliation: a Clinic of Internal Medicine 1, University of Genoa , Genoa , Italy .
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pende
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D049993:Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors; comorbidities; drug treatment; erectile dysfunction; hypertension; target organ damage