ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AND ASSOCIATED SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ASTHMA

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of erectile dysfunction among the patients of asthma and analyze the associated socio demographic factors.

Study Design: Cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Medicine, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from Oct to Dec 2018.

Methodology: One hundred and fifty seven patients of asthma diagnosed for more than one year by a consultant medical specialist or pulmonologist were included in the study. Erectile dysfunction was assessed by using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).

Results: Out of 157 patients of asthma, 74 (47.1%) had no erectile dysfunction, 50 (31.8%) had mild, 17 (10.8%) had mild to moderate, 11 (7.1%) had moderate and 5 (3.2%) had severe erectile dysfunction. Mean age of the study participants was 41.74 ± 3.16. Mean duration of asthma among the patients in this study was 5.98 ± 4.38 years. Poly-pharmacy and long duration of illness had significant association with erectile dysfunction (p-value<0.05).

Conclusion: There is a high frequency of erectile dysfunction among the patients suffering from asthma. Chronic illness when not under adequate control for a long time or is under control with poly pharmacy might give rise to problems which may be more troublesome than the primary illness.