Epidemiology of Erectile Dysfunction in Hypertension

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction is a microvascular-endothelial disease that affects the quality of life. Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor, while antihypertensive therapy is associated with dramatic reduction in cardiovascular events. Large community-based studies indicate that hypertension increases substantially the risk for erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is approximately twice as prevalent in hypertensive patients compared to normotensive individuals. Of major clinical importance, erectile dysfunction is usually more severe in hypertensive compared to normotensive subjects and tends to be more prevalent in treated than in untreated hypertensive patients, suggesting that antihypertensive therapy may, at least in part, contribute to erectile dysfunction. Age, duration, and severity of hypertension, comorbidities, and the type of antihypertensive therapy are the major determinants of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive patients. This review aims to summarize epidemiological data regarding the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive patients compared to normotensive individuals, the determinants of erectile dysfunction in hypertensive patients, and critically evaluate available data.