Three out of four men with diabetes have erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a recent study done at the Soavinandriana Hospital Center in Antananarivo, Madagascar. This finding highlights a serious but frequently disregarded public health issue.

The cross-sectional study, carried out between 2020 and 2023, included 305 diabetic patients and found a 73.4% prevalence of ED, with one in five cases classified as severe.  Age, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, dyslipidemia, and chronic diabetes were found to be significant risk factors.  Interestingly, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), specifically carotid atherosclerosis, was discovered in 44.9% of patients and was strongly correlated with the severity of ED.

In addition to being a problem with quality of life, ED may be an early indicator of underlying cardiovascular disease. The analysis found that patients with type 2 diabetes, those over 55, and those with more than ten years of disease duration were at significantly higher risk. The results highlight how crucial it is to screen for ED as part of regular diabetes care because it may indicate undiagnosed cardiovascular issues.

The researchers stress that early identification and management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as smoking, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, could help reduce both ED and heart disease, despite the fact that ED is frequently stigmatized and underdiagnosed in Madagascar. They urge more nationwide research and suggest incorporating ED assessment into diabetes care.

In addition to addressing a significant knowledge gap in Madagascar, this study supports the use of ED as a clinical indicator of cardiovascular risk in diabetic populations across the globe.