Summary:
Coronary heart disease is caused by atherosclerosis of heart vessels, namely
coronary arteries. Erectile dysfunction is not only a complication of the
disease, but also an adverse effect of medications used for its treatment, as
well as an early symptom that foretells its presentation. The present study
aimed at investigating the sexual function of men with coronary heart disease.
Seventy consecutive patients with coronary heart disease were administered a
valid questionnaire, "International Index of Erectile Function", while
socio-demographic data, information on daily living as well as data from their
medical and pharmaceutical history were recorded. Most patients were at
sixties. More than half were or had been smokers at some point in their lives,
while most consumed alcohol from time to time. A lot were suffering from
hyperlipidemia and/or hypertension, while a few had diabetes mellitus, or some
history of trauma, surgery or disease affecting the genitourinary system. They
were taking about 6 different medications per day, more frequently
antilipidemic agents, antiplatelet drugs, b-blockers and angiotensin converting
enzyme inhibitors.
According to "International Index of Erectile Function", only one fourth of the
patients declared having a normal sexual function, while one third had moderate
to severe dysfunction. Old age, having diabetes mellitus and hypertension,
having a history of genitourinary disease, surgery or trauma, taking a-blockers
as well as having an abnormal neck artery ultrasound were more or less
associated with various sides of the patients' sexual function. In an effort to
identify the most important independent factors interpreting erectile
dysfunction, diabetes mellitus and genitourinary disease were shown to be most
important.
As a conclusion, the sexual function of male coronary heart disease patients is
negatively influenced not only by the disease itself but also by various
factors, modifiable to some extent.
Keywords:
Coronary heart disease, Erectile dysfunction, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, Diabetes mellitus
