Assessment of Erectile Dysfunction and Associated Factors among Adult Hypertensive Patients Attending University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. A comparative cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Erectile dysfunction is persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. Hypertension and erectile dysfunction are closely intertwined diseases that have endothelium dysfunction in common. Erectile dysfunction affects sexual, quality of life, recreational, and intellectual intimacy and causes depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and marital tension among the victims and their partners. Regardless of its severe outcomes, erectile dysfunction got less attention among hypertensives. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, severity, and associated factors of erectile dysfunction among male hypertensive patients at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in 2022. Methods and materials: Hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 (119 hypertensives and 119 normotensives) participants attending University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from March 12 to May 16, 2022, selected by a systematic random sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical data. Assessment of erectile dysfunction was done using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire. A Blood sample was used for testosterone, prolactin, lipid profile, glucose, and uric acid measurement by using Beckman Coulter chemistry analyzer (DXI 800 and DXC 700 AU). Data were cleaned, coded, and entered into Epi-Data version 4.4.3.1 and exported to STATA-14 for analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of hypertensives and normotensives was 57.14?11.71 and 55.76?12.99 years respectively. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was significantly higher (P-value= 0.0011) among hypertensives (48.73% (95% CI: 39.77-57.79% where 35.29% mild, 8.4% moderate and 5.04% severe) compared to normotensives (29.4%, 95% CI: 21.83-38.33% where, 18.49% mild, 7.56% moderate and 3.36% severe). Hypertension (AOR= 3.13, 95% CI: 1.14 8.62), testosterone level (AOR= 0.35, 95% CI: 0.21-0.57), age (AOR= 1.21, 95% CI: 1.15-1.27), and alcohol consumption (AOR= 2.79, 95% CI: 1.09-7.09) were significantly associated factors. Conclusion and recommendation: Erectile dysfunction was found common problem in hypertensives. Therefore patients with preexisting hypertension have to be screened and counseled for ED. Hypertensives should stop or minimize consumption of alcohol. Moreover, further studies are needed to further substantiate the evidence. Keywords: Erectile dysfunction, associated factors, hypertension, Northwest Ethiopia