madman
Super Moderator
The erectile dysfunction as a marker of cardiovascular disease: a review
Camelia Cristina Diaconu , Maria Manea, Dragos Radu Marcu, Bogdan Socea, Arsenie Dan Spinu and Ovidiu Gabriel Bratuc
ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are two conditions that often coexist. Both diseases are consequences of the systemic vascular disease, sharing common risk factors, like diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, smoking, obesity, dyslipidaemia. Furthermore, they share the same pathological basis, endothelial dysfunction. Symptoms of ED precede with three to five years the clinical manifestations of CVD. This period may be a window of opportunity for the early initiation of a prompt therapeutic action for cardiovascular risk factors. This article reviews the incidence and prevalence of CVD and ED, the common risk factors, the pathophysiological link between the two diseases, and the current diagnosis and management strategies of patients with CVD and ED, in order to prevent myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure.
Conclusions
Erectile dysfunction represents an early manifestation of subclinical vascular disease. Erectile dysfunction and CVD may be considered as manifestations of the same disease. Symptoms of ED appear usually three to five years before symptoms of coronary artery disease and may be a warning for the development of CVD. Therefore, male patients with cardiovascular risk factors should be routinely screened for ED. An aggressive therapeutic strategy addressing the major cardiovascular risk factors is justified in patients with ED, in order to prevent the complications of CVD and to improve the prognosis of these patients.
Camelia Cristina Diaconu , Maria Manea, Dragos Radu Marcu, Bogdan Socea, Arsenie Dan Spinu and Ovidiu Gabriel Bratuc
ABSTRACT
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and erectile dysfunction (ED) are two conditions that often coexist. Both diseases are consequences of the systemic vascular disease, sharing common risk factors, like diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, smoking, obesity, dyslipidaemia. Furthermore, they share the same pathological basis, endothelial dysfunction. Symptoms of ED precede with three to five years the clinical manifestations of CVD. This period may be a window of opportunity for the early initiation of a prompt therapeutic action for cardiovascular risk factors. This article reviews the incidence and prevalence of CVD and ED, the common risk factors, the pathophysiological link between the two diseases, and the current diagnosis and management strategies of patients with CVD and ED, in order to prevent myocardial infarction, stroke or heart failure.
Conclusions
Erectile dysfunction represents an early manifestation of subclinical vascular disease. Erectile dysfunction and CVD may be considered as manifestations of the same disease. Symptoms of ED appear usually three to five years before symptoms of coronary artery disease and may be a warning for the development of CVD. Therefore, male patients with cardiovascular risk factors should be routinely screened for ED. An aggressive therapeutic strategy addressing the major cardiovascular risk factors is justified in patients with ED, in order to prevent the complications of CVD and to improve the prognosis of these patients.
