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Erectile dysfunction in heart failure: correlation with severity, exercise performance, comorbidities, and heart
Anna Apostolo1, Carlo Vignati, Denise Brusoni
1Istituto di Scienze Cardiovascolari, Università di Milano-Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan 20138, Italy.
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
|August 14, 2009
Summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in heart failure (HF) patients. Age, diabetes, diuretic use, and hemoglobin levels are key factors associated with ED in men with HF.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Urology
- Men's Health
Background:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) significantly impacts the quality of life for many men with chronic heart failure (HF).
- The relationship between ED and heart failure severity, comorbidities, and treatments remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between erectile dysfunction (ED) and heart failure (HF) severity.
- To examine the association of ED with HF treatments and comorbidities.
- To identify predictors of ED in patients with chronic heart failure.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 101 male patients with stable chronic heart failure (HF), left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40%, and age ≤70 years was studied.
- Evaluations included biochemical markers (hemoglobin, lipids, etc.), validated questionnaires for ED, depression, and urological symptoms, and objective measures of HF severity (echocardiography, BNP, cardiopulmonary exercise testing).
- The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire was used to assess ED, with scores correlated against clinical, exercise, and comorbidity parameters.
Main Results:
- High prevalence of ED (69.3%) was observed in the total HF population.
- Peak oxygen consumption (VO2) below 10 mL/min/kg was associated with normal or slightly impaired sexual function in none of the patients.
- Multivariable analysis identified age, hemoglobin levels, diabetes, and diuretic use as significant independent predictors of ED in HF patients.
Conclusions:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) is highly prevalent in men with chronic heart failure (HF).
- Adequate sexual function may require a peak oxygen consumption (VO2) exceeding 10 mL/min/kg.
- Age, diabetes, diuretic use, and hemoglobin levels are independently associated with ED in this population.
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