Studies Linking Erectile Dysfunction with Heart Problems
Erectile dysfunction appears to be closely linked to cardiovascular disease and other chronic diseases, according to three studies released today by the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. “
The conclusion follows from an analysis conducted by researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California and the Project for Urologic Diseases in America.
The scientists said in a sexual function questionnaire respondents 2126 men, who also underwent a medical examination, it was determined that 18.4 percent of them suffered from erectile dysfunction (ED).
The research also established that the problem increases with age, affecting 6.5 percent of men between 20 and 29 years old, and 77.5 percent of those over 75.
The authors of the study indicated that besides the problems of hypertension, other risk factors found in the ED are obesity and diabetes and other problems associated with the consumption of snuff.
“Mitigation of these risk factors could reduce the burden of erectile dysfunction,” according to the authors of the study.
This result coincided with another study conducted by doctors at the Hospitals of the University of Chicago, who conducted an evaluation of 221 men with an average age of 58.6 years.
In a test to determine heart disease, 54.8 percent of them said to suffer from a problem that increases with patient age.
The authors, a larger number of men suffering dysfunction suffered a higher standard of cardiac problems, diabetes and hypertension compared to those which were normal sexual function.
The relationship may help clinicians to establish the existence of an increased risk of heart disease and other chronic problems in patients with ED, the scientists said.
“Consult with patients about sexual function may be useful in establishing the risk levels of coronary heart disease,” said the study.
For their part, Canadian doctors Montreal General Hospital and McGill University noted that a review of medical records for 3921 men aged between 44 and 88 years indicated that almost half (49.4 percent) suffered from ED.
The investigation also established that those suffering from cardiovascular diseases and diabetes suffer a greater extent that those who did not have that problem of sexual dysfunction.
“These data show that, when investigating sexual function, family physicians can obtain important clinical information beyond the detection of DE”, said the authors of this study.