Ipertensione arteriosa e problematiche sessuali nel giovane

Summary Hypertension is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in adults, therefore requiring an appropriate life-term antihypertensive treatment to prevent cardiovascular diseases(CVD). However, actually about only 20% to 30% of hypertensive patients are under sufficient blood pressure(BP)control, of which low compliance to antihypertensive treatments is considered to be one of the main reasons. A high incidence of sexual dysfunction is reported in patients with CVDs, including hypertension. Decrease in penile artery circulation is one important etiologic factor for erectile dysfunction(ED)in men. Decreased peripheral circulation along with essential hypertension and CVDs may be related to ED. Also, side effects of antihypertensive drugs and other cardiovascular treatment agents sometimes result in ED. In case ED arises during antihypertensive treatment, adherence to the treatment may be difficult. In Italy, the frequency of ED in males increases with age, ranging from 4.6% in men under 25 years, to 37.6% in men over 74 with a mean of 19.9% in the entire male population. Sexual dysfunction has been found in hypertensive women too. Its prevalence is about 35%. Risk factors for ED tend to overlap with CVD risk factors, and there is a substantial evidence that CVD is very common in patients with ED. Therefore, even mild ED may give clues to clinically silent but progressive coronary, peripheral or cerebrovascular disease as well as undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes and other endocrine disorders. Moreover, general health scores have been found to be lower in the hypertensive patients, suggesting that essential hypertension per se may influence quality of life, but the association with ED may worsen life performances in young patients.