Should an inquiry about sexual health, as a reflection of vascular health, be part of routine physicals for young men? Results from an outpatient study.

The objective of this study was to determine the cardiovascular risk factors among men with erectile dysfunction (ED) at a hospital-based primary care clinic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a primary care clinic in the King Khalid University Hospital (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia), during the period from January to March 2009. Verbal consent was obtained from the attending patients. All patients attending a consultant primary care clinic were interviewed and asked about the presence of ED. Cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking were determined during consultation. Data entry and analysis were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 11.5. A P-value <0.05% was considered significant. A total of 264 men were studied. The estimated prevalence of ED was 18.9%, and only 28% of them had consulted their physician regarding their problem. The prevalence of ED increased with old age, 64% of men with ED were aged > or =60 years. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking were common cardiovascular risk factors among men with ED. Using medications for chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia was common among men with EDs (98%). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking are common cardiovascular risk factors among men with ED. Early diagnosis and management of cardiovascular risk factors at an early stage might help to decrease the prevalence of ED. Facilitating patients to talk with their treating physicians regarding sensitive issues such as ED during consultation will help patients to seek proper and safe medical advice. Further research at multi-centres to study the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and ED is recommended.