(326) Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction in Men who Suffered from Covid-19 treated at the Centro Clinic of Barranquilla
Authors: Martinez Preciado J M , Atencio L , Corredor H , Sandoval C 
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Covid-19 is a disease that compromises the vascular endothelium, this alters the function of many systems. Erectile dysfunction is caused by failures in the function of the vascular endothelium, also by psychological alterations secondary to having suffered from COVID-19. Given the association of endothelial damage with Covid and with erectile function, some authors suggest a relationship between Covid and erectile dysfunction (ED), in addition to being mediated by psychogenic causes.

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men diagnosed with Covid-19 between January 1, and 30 December 2021 managed in the ICU or hospitalized in a clinic in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational study. Patients who met the selection criteria were included, contacted by telephone, who agreed to participate, and informed consent was sent; The telephone survey included the IIFE-EF and EHS questionnaires, in addition to management data, Covid complications, and comorbidities. Patients with compatible erectile dysfunction scores underwent a descriptive analysis of the data, estimating measures of central tendency and dispersion measures for the numerical variables and absolute and relative frequencies for the categorical variables.

Results

57 patients participated in the study, 15 patients (26.32%) did not present complications after Covid, 42 patients (73.68%) presented complications of these 33 (73.33%) were managed in hospitalization and 9 (75%) in the ICU, the complications after Covid were, Anxiety and Depression 6 (10.53%), Anosmia 1 (5.26%), Cardiac arrhythmia 4 (7.02%), Coagulopathy 1 (1.75%), Musculoskeletal disorders 24(42.11%), Lower urinary tract symptoms 1(1.75%, Headache 1 (1.75%), Peripheral Vascular Disease 1(1.75%), Abdominal pain 1(1, 75%), Memory alterations 1(1.75%), Pulmonary fibrosis 1(1.75%), Dyspnea 16 (28%), Arterial hypertension 1(1.75%), 10.7% of the patients were smokers, 63% consumed alcohol In the evaluation of erectile function, it is found that before Covid 19 (34%) previously had ED of which 19 stated that their problem worsened after Covid. According to the degree of ED according to IIFE 15 - EF is obtained Mild: 8.77%, Mild-Moderate: 5.26%, Moderate: 12.8%, Severe: 5.26%, Without sexual intercourse: 8.77%, and without ED 59.65%.

Conclusions

It was found that 34% of the patients had ED without being able to confirm direct causality due to the history of Covid, the data is somewhat higher but close to the reports of other studies that show a prevalence of 28%. It can be suggested that the history of Covid can exacerbate the pathological condition of the erectile response. However, it is not possible to determine if this worsening is due to the involvement of the vascular endothelium or due to psychological conditions, which for the study presented a low frequency, which makes it is much less likely that this is the cause of the alteration in the quality of the erection.

Disclosure

No