[Erectile dysfunction in primary care as possible marker of health status: associated factors and response to sildenafil].

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.