(O-17) Coronary angiography and erectile function in 551 men: a landmark Latin American study with control group analysis

Abstract Objective Erectile dysfunction (ED) is highly prevalent in men over 40 years of age, most often of organic origin and frequently associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Given that the penile arteries have a smaller caliber, atherosclerotic obstruction tends to manifest earlier than in the coronary vessels, making ED a potential early marker of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to assess the correlation between erectile function, measured by the IIEF-5 questionnaire, and angiographic findings in coronary arteries. To our knowledge, this is the largest Latin American study with a control group to explore this correlation through coronary angiography. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study including 551 men who underwent coronary angiography. Patients were divided into five groups: those undergoing coronary angioplasty (n = 109), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n = 124), both procedures (n = 16), clinical treatment (n = 172), and a control group with no coronary lesions (n = 130). All participants completed the validated Portuguese version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Results ED was significantly more prevalent and severe among patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) compared to the control group (p = 0.039). The absence of ED was more frequent in the control group (35.4%) than in those with CAD (23.0%). No significant association was found between the type of treatment (surgical, percutaneous, or clinical) and ED severity (p = 0.296). Conclusion This is the first large-scale Brazilian and potentially Latin American study to correlate erectile function and coronary artery disease using objective imaging (angiography) and validated questionnaire (IIEF-5), with a robust control group. The findings reinforce the hypothesis that ED may precede overt coronary events, acting as a valuable early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and supporting its use in cardiovascular risk stratification. Financing No conflict.