The Influence of Socioeconomic Status on the Presence and Degree of Erectile Dysfunction in Men With Coronary Artery Disease—A Cross-Sectional Study

Impairment of social functioning and low economic status may lead to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with clinically significant CVD. A total of 808 male patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were recruited. Socioeconomic and demographic data as well as occupational data and the presence of modifiable risk factors were collected. Erection quality was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5), while physical activity was evaluated using a modified Framingham questionnaire. Relationships among the presence of socioeconomic factors (marital status, education, income, occupational status, nature of work conducted, and demographic data), intensity of ED, and time from diagnosis of IHD were assessed. ED was diagnosed in 618 men (76.49% overall; severe in 23.14%, moderate to severe in 13.11%, moderate in 32.20%, mild in 31.55%). Patients with ED were older (61 ± 8.6 vs. 53 ± 9.1 years; p < .0001), were less active (6.97 ± 2.18 vs. 8.31 ± 2.34 Metabolic Equivalent [METs]; p < .0001), and had more modifiable risk factors (3.4 ± 1.1 vs. 3.2 ± 1.0; p < .0300). Higher education was associated with a lower probability of the occurrence of ED (OR = 0.7546; 95% CI [0.6221, 0.9153]). In patients with newly diagnosed IHD, SES correlated significantly with the presence of ED (p = .009). Education in patients suffering from CVD has a significant relationship with both the occurrence and degree of ED. Economic status was significantly linked to the presence and degree of ED only in patients with IHD diagnosed less than 2 months before entering the study.