[Impotence in diabetic patients: detection of prevalence and social-health implications]. / Impotencia en pacientes diabéticos: detección de prevalencia e implicaciones sociosanitarias.

OBJECTIVES: To classify information received from diabetics on erectile dysfunction (ED) and to find whether help is being sought or there is just passive resignation. DESIGN: Epidemiological, descriptive, crossover study. SETTING: Urban Health Centre. PATIENTS: 102 patients involved in the Diabetes Programme for over a year were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A data collection sheet with the variables listed under objectives was designed. Average age was 63 +/- 12. Overall prevalence of ED was 56%, age being the most important related variable found (p < 0.01). 30% of patients with ED had requested medical care; only 18% had been treated. However, 54% of impotent diabetics accepted the theoretical possibility of treatment with intracavernous injections. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of ED was detected in the diabetic patients studied. They considered the medical information on possible treatments scant (18%) and generally inadequate. Most preferred to be treated by the Primary Care doctor. Primary Care professionals must become more sensitive to ED and provide correct therapeutic information.