Erectile dysfunction may not only have risk factors similar to those for cardiovascular disease, but it may also be an independent risk factor for such disease, new research presented this week suggests.

“If you can't get an erection, your heart may be heading in the wrong direction,” said Dr Geoff Hackett, consultant in sexual dysfunction at Good Hope Hospital, Birmingham, at the annual congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in London.

A pilot study by Greek researchers evaluated the incidence …