Over the past decade, evidence has suggested that
erectile dysfunction is an early indicator for
cardiovascular disease. In light of this
association, erectile dysfunction has been described
as providing a “window of curability” for men at
risk for future cardiovascular disease.
Researchers studied the association between erectile
dysfunction and undiagnosed hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus in a
nationally representative sample of men.
They analyzed cross-sectional data from men aged 20
years and older who participated in the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey during
2001–2004.
Erectile dysfunction was determined by a single,
validated survey question. They used logistic
regression analyses to investigate the relationship
between erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed
hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes.
After multivariate adjustment, men with erectile
dysfunction had more than double the odds of having
undiagnosed diabetes, whereas no association was
seen for undiagnosed hypertension or undiagnosed
hypercholesterolemia.
For the average man aged 40 to 59 years, the
predicted probability of having undiagnosed diabetes
increased from 1 in 50 in the absence of erectile
dysfunction to 1 in 10 in the presence of erectile
dysfunction.
Men with erectile dysfunction, particularly those
who are middle-aged, should be made aware of their
potential for having underlying diabetes and be
encouraged to obtain screening.
In the same vein, physicians should be vigilant in
obtaining sexual histories in middle-aged men and
screening those with erectile dysfunction for
diabetes.
For more information
Annals of Family Medicine
MDN |