ABSTRACT
Background: Endothelial dysfunction is associated to erectile dysfunction. This last condition can even be considered as a cardiovascular risk factor. Aim: To determine the frequency of erectile dysfunction among hospitalized patients with and without acute coronary syndromes. Material and Methods: Prospective cross sectional study in which all male patients, aged 40 to 70 years admitted to the emergency room or medicine service of a general hospital in a period of two months, were included. Those with acute coronary syndromes were considered as cases and those without, as controls. The international erectile dysfunction index questionnaire (IIEF-5) was applied to all. Results: Forty four patients with acute coronary syndrome aged 57 +/- 8 years and 46 controls aged 56 +/- 9 years were included. Erectile dysfunction was present in 34 (77 percent) cases and 20 (44 percent) controls (p < 0.01). The odds ratio of having erectile dysfunction among coronary patients was 4.4 (95 percent confidence intervals 1.6-12.3). Conclusions: There was a higher frequency of erectile dysfunction among patients with acute coronary syndromes.
