Discussion and Conclusions

Our study supports the evidence that there are common risk factors for SD in men and women such as socio-demographic, general health and CV risk factors. A stronger correlation between CDV disease and poor sexual function was expected, if it wasn’t for the shortness of our sample. However, even without statistical significance, all CDV disease were associated with a diminishing of sexual function when comparing with apparently healthy people. As ED usually precedes a CV event, prevention and correct management of this situation could have a positive impact on the individual and public health. Thus, all patients presented with SD should undergo a basic cardiovascular evaluation namely risk factor evaluation. Our study recognized increased waist circumference, diabetes and hypertension as positively correlated to SD in both sexes reinforcing the idea that SD represent excellent targets for preventive medicine. Finally, our results stress that both male and female sexual function tend to worsen when there is an increase of combined CV risk factors. These findings reinforce the relationships between SD and CVD, but further study and with a larger sample is needed in order to strengthen these connections. Some questions were not addressed in the current analysis like the impact of other chronic diseases than CVD and medication, but will be addressed in future analyses to explore not only the presence of CDV and CV risk factors, but also quantify their severity and their correspondent impact on sexual function. Physiopathology of SD is complex and it seems that sexual health is the end point of general health status with every single part, some more important than others, being crucial to well-functioning. Methods Cross-sectional study among male and female patients of two Lisbon Primary Health Centres (PHC), aged between 18-80 years old, aspiring to be sexually active, and with a clinical record. Patients ’ questionnaires collected information concerning socio-demographics ’ variables, lifestyle, medical history, knowledge and beliefs about SD and their treatments and patient-physician relationship. Structured self-administered questionnaires were also applied to th