Clinical and Emotional Factors Related to Erectile Dysfunction in HIV-Infected Men

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Infectious Diseases
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) prevalence and factors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected men require further clarification.
• Optimizing sexual health is crucial for the well-being of individuals living with HIV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence and associated clinical and emotional factors of ED in a cohort of HIV-infected men.
• To identify predictors of ED in a well-controlled HIV-positive population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study involving 501 HIV-infected men.
• ED assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).
• Emotional status evaluated using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of ED was 58.5% among the participants.
• Older age and higher HAD scores were significantly associated with ED in multivariate analyses.
• Factors like time since HIV diagnosis, specific antiretroviral drugs, coinfections, and social support showed associations in univariate analyses.

Conclusions:

• ED is highly prevalent in well-controlled HIV-infected men.
• Age and emotional status (anxiety and depression) are fundamental factors influencing ED in this population.
• Further research into managing ED in HIV-infected individuals is warranted.