Erectile dysfunction, a problem harbinger of heart disease?

The preliminary study on twenty patients suggests that erectile dysfunction of arterial origin is a risk factor for coronary lesions, independently of other risk factors for heart disease.

A study on twenty men suggests that erectile dysfunction of arterial origin is a risk factor for coronary lesions. The researchers wanted to highlight the effective link between these two conditions in the context of prospective research. They presented the results of their work to the National Academy of Surgery (Paris) on January 11.

The erectile dysfunction is known as an independent predictor of myocardial infarction. For patients with asymptomatic heart disease, this would prevent or cure coronary damage.

Patients aged 45 to 70 (55.4 years on average) had no known cardiac history and had their first consultation for erectile dysfunction. For those whose penile echo-doppler showed arterial involvement, a coroscanner confirmed the presence or not of coronary involvement, as well as its severity.

Allow early detection of coronary lesions

Result: only one of these patients shows a normal CT scan; half (10) presented non-significant lesions; 30% (6) have intermediate impairment; 15% (3) have a coronary artery disease significant. ” This study (the first to our knowledge) overwhelmingly confirms the predictive factor of patent and latent coronary lesions of erectile dysfunction of arterial origin regardless of their severity. “, report the researchers.

Note that cardiovascular risk factors were recorded, counting eight type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) among patients. Other studies will follow on patients with the same risk factors, but without penile arterial involvement.