To determine the frequency of the erectile dysfunction (ED) among hypertensive patients; to identify the predictive factors.

The study was a prospective one, conducted at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, from May 1st to July 31st, 2015. It included treated hypertensive patients presenting an ED, defined as the incapacity to obtain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. The IIEF-5 score made it possible to specify the degree of severity of ED.

On 265 hypertensive patients, 172 (65%) presented an ED. The average age was 58.2 ±9.7years. The main associated cardiovascular risk factors were an overweight/obesity in 99 cases (37.4%), a sedentariness in 90 cases (34%), a diabetes in 50 cases (19%). The arterial hypertension (AHT), old of 6.7±5.8years, was treated by a bitherapy in 129 cases (48.7%), a tritherapy in 102 cases (38.5%), a monotherapy in 18 cases (6.8%), at least a quadritherapy in 16 cases (6%). The principal therapeutic classes used were an ACE inhibitor/ARB in 213 cases (81%), a calcium channel blocker in 205 cases (78%), a thiazidediuretic in 137 cases (52.1%), and a betablocker in 82 cases (31%). ED, severe in 124 cases (72%), and moderate in 48 cases (28%), consisted of a difficulty of maintaining erection in 78 cases (45.3%), a difficulty of obtaining erection in 30 cases (17.4%), and the two partners in 64 cases (37.2%). In multivariate analysis, only the age, seniority of AHT, and the existence of diabetes were the predictive factors of ED.

This study shows that ED is a frequent comorbidity among hypertensive patients. The early and effective assumption of responsibility of the AHT, as well as other cardiovascular risk factors whose diabetes, would make it possible to reduce the frequency of it, thus improving quality of life of the hypertensive patients.