This placebo-controlled study published in Journal of the American Heart Association, analysed 1,549 randomly selected men across 13 countries with ED and cardiovascular disease and men without ED. The study findings revealed that men with ED and cardiovascular disease were 1.9 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease, twice as likely to have a heart attack, are more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure and have a stroke.
Commenting on the results of the study, Michael Bohm, MD, lead author of the study and chairman of internal medicine at the University of Saarland in Germany, said in a news release, “Erectile dysfunction is something that regularly should be addressed in the medical history of patients. It might be a symptom of early atherosclerosis.” He further adds that ED is closely associated with conditions that occur in atherosclerosis and vascular problems, such as plaque build up, which often precedes heart attacks and strokes. He therefore suggests that men with ED going to a general practitioner or a urologist need to be referred for a cardiology workup to determine existing cardiovascular disease.
The research concludes with the emphasis on ED being viewed as a strong predictor of heart disease, just like high blood pressure or cholesterol.
Written by Snigdha for Biomed-ME