Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in men diagnosed with heart failure: implications for practice

The management of heart failure is often a complex process and therefore best managed via a multidisciplinary approach. Patients with heart failure express anxiety in relation to sexual activity and need guidance and support from their clinical team. One anxiety reported is erectile dysfunction (ED). ED has a prevalence of 8% in 40-year-old men which increases to 40% in 60-year-old men. In a survey of 52 men attending a heart failure clinic, the prevalence was 90%. Quality of life was adversely affected and men erroneously believed that treatment was unavailable or contra-indicated by virtue of their diagnosis of heart failure. Quality of erection was established using the self-reported Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) which is a 5-item questionnaire examining various aspects of sexual function. The mean SHIM score was 11.1, indicating moderate ED.

The aim of this paper is to identify the prevalence of ED in a convenience sample of men attending a heart failure clinic in East London, and to discuss how nurses can raise the profile of ED and outline treatment options.