Erectile dysfunction: prevalence and associated variables in patients with chronic renal failure

Patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) experience a significant decrease in quality of life, due both to the limitations imposed by the disease as well as the demands of the treatment that they receive. Some side effects of both illness and treatment contribute to increase the morbidity of these patients. Among them, erectile dysfunction (ED) is notable. One hundred and nineteen patients received clinical and laboratory evaluation. The following clinical data were observed: age, education, income, race, period of dialysis, period of complaints of ED, etiology of ED, use of erythropoietin, presence of arterial hypertension and/or diabetes mellitus, use of antihypertensive drugs, use of cigarettes, and psycho-emotional state of the patients. Assessment of complaints of ED was achieved using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). The following laboratory data were analyzed: hemoglobin, hematocrit, free testosterone, gonadotrophin levels (FSH and LH), HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, prolactin, and parathyroid hormone. Statistical analysis of the means of continuous variables was performed through use of the Student's t-test. Analysis of significance of category variables was performed using the chi(2) test. Descriptive analysis was obtained through use of the clinical and socio-demographic data. A multivariate model was created and the odds ratio calculated. The average age of the patients was 47.3+/-15.9 y. The mean duration of erectile dysfunction complaints was 4 y. The average duration of dialysis was 66.2+/-58.9 months. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in this population was 57.9%. The main known etiology of chronic renal failure was glomerulonephritis. The main variables associated with erectile dysfunction were age, psycho-emotional state, and levels of HDL-cholesterol. This study showed a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction in the group of patients examined. Factors such as age, anxiety and depressive complaints, and dyslipidemy seem to play an important role in the origin of erectile dysfunction in such patients.