Related Experiment Videos
[Erectile dysfunction in primary care as possible marker of health status: associated factors and response to
L Guirao Sánchez1, L García-Giralda Ruiz, C Sandoval Martínez
1Centro de Salud de Alguazas. Gerencia de Atención Primaria de Murcia. Spain.
Objectives:
To find the factors linked to erectile dysfunction, to evaluate this as a possible marker of health status, to analyse the evolution of clinical parameters of associated illnesses and the response to Viagra.Design. Intervention study without a control.
Setting:
Alguazas Health Centre (Murcia).
Participants:
All the patients in the programme (125), with a figure on the sexual health in men index (SHIM) below 21.Interventions. Health education and administration of Viagra.
Main Measurements:
Concomitant illnesses, pathologies previously unknown to the patient, changes in erectile function valued on the international index of erectile function (IIEF), and changes in blood pressure, glucaemia and lipids.
Results:
Factors linked to erectile dysfunction were diabetes (50.4%), hypertension (33.6%), hypercholesterolaemia (22.4%), urological pathology (12.8%) and mental health disorders (33.6%). The hidden pathology detected was 15 cases of hypertension, 3 diabetes, 2 cardiopathies, 20 dyslipaemias, 3 depressions, 13 anxiety and 5 urological problems. The variations in clinical parameters at 3 months were: glucaemia, -38.3 mg (P<.001, Student s t=-5.186); HbA1c, -0.9 (P<.05, Student s t=-2.16); systolic blood pressure, -16 mm Hg (P<.01, Student s t=-3.486) and diastolic pressure -13 mm Hg (P<.001, Student s t=-4.594); and total cholesterol, -14.2% (P<.001, Student s t=7.01). Erectile function improved by 74% with Viagra.
Conclusions:
2 out of every 3 patients with erectile dysfunction presented associated diseases; one in every 3 were ignorant of their health problem. Monitoring of chronic illnesses improved significantly. Finally, 3 in every 4 responded to Viagra.