Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in heart failure patients by race and ethnicity

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 20, pages 507–511 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common problem in male patients with heart failure (HF). However, no study was found that estimates the prevalence of ED by US ethnic groups with HF. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study of patients enrolled in a HF disease management program in two sites Louisiana (N=329; 178 white, 99 black) and Florida (N=52; Hispanic). All male patients with an ejection fraction ⩽40% were included. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men was used to estimate the prevalence of ED. Overall prevalence of ED was 89% and ED severity did not vary by race/ethnic group. Race/ethnic group differences were found for age, New York Heart Association functional classification, and blood pressure. Hispanic patients had the lowest unadjusted and adjusted prevalence rate of ED (81, 85%) compared to Black (90, 95%) and White (91, 92%) patients. There is a high prevalence of ED in Hispanic, Black and White ethnic groups with HF.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. NIH Consensus Conference. Impotence. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. JAMA 1993; 270: 83–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rosen RC, Fisher WA, Eardley I, Niederberger C, Nadel A, Sand M . The multinational Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study: I. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and related health concerns in the general population. Curr Med Res Opin 2004; 20: 603–606.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Saigal CS, Wessells H, Pace J, Schonlau M, Wilt TJ . Predictors and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in a racially diverse population. Arch Intern Med 2006; 166: 207–212.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB . Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol 1994; 151: 54–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Laumann EO, West S, Glasser D, Carson C, Rosen R, Kang JH . Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction by race and ethnicity among men aged 40 or older in the United States: from the male attitudes regarding sexual health survey. J Sex Med 2007; 4: 57–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Nicolosi A, Moreira ED, Shirai Jr M, Tambi MIBM, Glasser DB . Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction in four countries: cross-national study of the prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction. Urology 2003; 61: 201–206.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Solomon H, Man JW, Wierzbicki AS, Jackson G . Relation of erectile dysfunction to angiographic coronary artery disease. Am J Cardiol 2003; 91: 230–231.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Montorsi F, Briganti A, Salonia A, Rigatti P, Margonato A, Macchi A et al. Erectile dysfunction prevalence, time of onset and association with risk factors in 300 consecutive patients with acute chest pain and angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Eur Urol 2003; 44: 360–365.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Dhabuwala CB, Kumar A, Pierce JM . Myocardial infarction and its influence on male sexual dysfunction. Arch Sexual Behav 1986; 15: 499–504.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Kloner R, Mullin SH, Shook T, Matthews R, Mayeda G, Burstein S et al. Erectile dysfunction in the cardiac patient: how common and how should we treat? J Urol 2003; 170: S46–S50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Schwarz ER, Kapur V, Bionat S, Rastogi S, Gupta R, Rosanio S . The prevalence and clinical relevance of sexual dysfunction in women and men with chronic heart failure. Int J Impot Res 2008; 20: 85–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. LSU Health Care Services Division 2006 Annual Report. Available at: http://www.lsuhospitals.org/AnnualReports/2006/LSUHCSD_Web_FY05-06.Moran.pdf, accessed on March 1, 2008.

  13. Cappelleri JC, Rosen RC . The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM): a 5-year review of research and clinical experience. Int J Impot Res 2005; 17: 307–319.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rosen RC, Cappelleri JC, Smith MD, Lipsky J, Pena BM . Development and evaluation of an abridged, 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) as a diagnostic tool for erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 1999; 11: 319–326.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Knoerl AM . Cultural considerations and the Hispanic cardiac client. Home Healthc Nurse 2007; 25: 82–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Riegel B, Carlson B, Glaser D, Romero T . Randomized controlled trial of telephone case management in Hispanics of Mexican origin with heart failure. J Card Fail 2006; 12: 211–219.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Freitas D, Athanazio R, Almeida D, Dantas N, Reis F . Sildenafil improves quality of life in men with heart failure and erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2006; 18: 210–212.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Katz SD, Parker JD, Glasser DB, Bank AJ, Sherman N, Wang H et al. Efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate in men with erectile dysfunction and chronic heart failure. Am J Cardiol 2005; 95: 36–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Young JM, Bennett C, Gilhooly P, Wessells H, Ramos DE . Efficacy and safety of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in black and Hispanic American men. Urology 2002; 60 (Suppl 2): 39–48.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Mukamel DB, Weimer DB, Thomas C, Ladd H, Mushlin A . Changes in racial disparities in access to coronary artery bypass grafting surgery between the late 1990s and early 2000s. Med Care 2007; 45: 664–671.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Davis AM, Vinci LM, Okwuosa TM, Chase AR, Huang ES . Cardiovascular health disparities: a systematic review of health care interventions. Med Care Res Rev 2007; 64: 29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hargraves JL, Hadley J . The contribution of insurance coverage and community resources to reducing racial/ethnic disparities in access to care. Health Serv Res 2003; 38: 809–829.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Mayberry RM, Mili F, Ofili E . Racial and ethnic differences in access to medical care. Med Care Res Rev 2000; 57: 108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Ayanian JZ, Weissman JS, Chasan-Taber S, Epstein AM . Quality of care by race and gender for congestive heart failure and pneumonia. Med Care 1999; 37: 1260–1269.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bach PB, Pharo HH, Schrag D . Primary care physicians who treat blacks and whites. N Engl J Med 2004; 351: 575–584.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Skinner J, Chandra A, Staiger D . Mortality after acute myocardial infarction in hospitals that disproportionately treat black patients. Circulation 2005; 112: 2634–2641.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Virnig BA, Lurie N, Huang Z . Racial variation in quality of care among Medicare+choice enrollees. Health Aff 2002; 21: 224–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kirby JB, Taliaferro G, Zuvekas SH . Explaining racial and ethnic disparities in health care. Medical Care 2006; 44: 64–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Link BG, Phelan J . Social conditions as fundamental causes of disease. J Health Soc Behav 1995; extra issue: 80–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Cunningham PJ, Hadley J, Kenney G, Davidoff AJ . Identifying affordable sources of medical care among uninsured persons. Health Serv Res 2007; 42: 265–285.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Fiscella K, Franks P, Doescher MP, Saver BG . Disparities in health care by race, ethnicity, and language among the insured: findings from a national sample. Medical Care 2002; 40: 52–59.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Zweifler J, Padilla A, Schafer S . Barriers to recognition of erectile dysfunction among diabetic Mexican-American men. J Am Board Fam Pract 1998; 11: 259–263.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Kalinowski L, Iwona T, Dobrucki MS, Malinski T . Race-specific differences in endothelial function predisposition of African Americans to vascular diseases. Circulation 2004; 109: 2511–2517.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Marchesi S, Lupattelli G, Sensini A, Lombardini R . Racial difference in endothelial function: role of the infective burden. Atherosclerosis 2007; 191: 227–234.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Treiber FA, Jackson RW, Davis H, Pollock JS, Kapuku G, Mensah GA et al. Racial differences in endothelin-1 at rest and in response to acute stress in adolescent males. Hypertension 2000; 35: 722–725.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Tamler R, Bar-Chama N . Assessment of endothelial function in the patient with erectile dysfunction: an opportunity for the urologist. Int J Impot Res 2008; 20: 370–377.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Solomon H, Man JW, Jackson G . Erectile dysfunction and the cardiovascular patient: endothelial dysfunction is the common denominator. Heart 2003; 89: 251–254.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. El-Sakka AI . Association of risk factors and medical comorbidities with male sexual dysfunctions. J Sex Med 2007; 4: 1691–1700.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Nikoobakht M, Nasseh H, Pourkasmaee M . The relationship between lipid profile and erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2007; 19: 617.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Heidler S, Temml C, Broessner C, Mock K, Rauchenwald M, Madersbacher S et al. Is the metabolic syndrome an independent risk factor for erectile dysfunction? J Urol 2007; 177: 651–654.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Burke JP, Jacobson DJ, McGree ME, Nehra A, Roberts RO, Girman CJ et al. Diabetes and sexual dysfunction: results from the Olmsted County Study of urinary symptoms and health status among men. J Urol 2007; 177: 1438–1442.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Riedner CE, Rhoden EL, Ribeiro EP, Fuchs SC . Central obesity is an independent predictor of erectile dysfunction in older men. J Urol 2006; 176: 1519–1523.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Kalter-Leibovici O, Wainstein J, Ziv A, Harman-Bohem I, Murad H, Raz I et al. Clinical, socioeconomic, and lifestyle parameters associated with erectile dysfunction among diabetic men. Diabetes Care 2005; 28: 1739–1744.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Lenfant C, Chobanian AV, Jones DW, Roccella EJ . Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7): resetting the hypertension sails. Hypertension 2003; 41: 1178–1179.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    K Hebert & B Lopez

  2. Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    J Castellanos

  3. Department of Medicine, Humana Health Services Research Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA

    A Palacio & L Tamariz

  4. Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA

    A Palacio & L Tamariz

  5. Leonard J Chabert Medical Center, Department of Medicine, Houma, LA, USA

    L M Arcement

Authors
  1. K Hebert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B Lopez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J Castellanos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A Palacio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L Tamariz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. L M Arcement
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Lopez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hebert, K., Lopez, B., Castellanos, J. et al. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction in heart failure patients by race and ethnicity. Int J Impot Res 20, 507–511 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2008.35

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2008.35

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links