Erectile dysfunction and depressive mood in men with coronary heart disease

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent comorbid condition in men with coronary heart disease (CHD). Depressive mood is associated with adverse outcomes in CHD patients. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships between ED and depressive mood in CHD male patients. Methods: Eighty-five CHD male patients were given standardized questionnaires to assess ED, depressive mood, current anxiety, and Type-D personality (i.e. negative affectivity and social inhibition). Results: A significant ED was found in 57.6% of the patients. Controlling for psychometric measures, CHD risk factors, and drugs, a significant ED was independently predicted by depressive mood, hypertension and, marginally, age. Conclusions: These results confirm the high prevalence of ED in CHD male patients. They suggest that ED in CHD male patients may be more strongly associated with depressive mood than with antihypertensive drugs. Because depressive mood is associated with adverse CHD outcomes and may require adequate treatment, clinicians should better search for depressive mood in CHD patients presenting with ED. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.