Erectile dysfunction predicts cardiovascular risk in men

doi:10.1136/bmj.a2166

Published 21 October 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a2166
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2166

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Benefits of screening

Erectile dysfunction predicts cardiovascular risk in men

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

I am a doctor of 30 years’ experience, and I am disturbedonce again to see an article on cardiovascular risk that totallyignores the massive evidence base linking erectile dysfunctionwith cardiovascular risk.¹ For years, I have seen patients referredwith erectile dysfunction after a coronary event to hear thatthey developed erectile dysfunction two to three years beforehand,went to their general practitioner, but were dismissed. Thefacts are as follows.

Men live seven to eight years less than women. Erectile dysfunctionis the manifestation of vascular disease in smaller arteriesand gives a two to three year early warning of myocardial infarction.Erectile dysfunction carries a 50% additional risk of coronaryevents, a level comparable to moderate smoking or positive firstdegree relative family history. Erectile dysfunction in type2 diabetes is a better predictor of coronary risk than HbA₁c,hypertension, microalbuminuria, or hyperlipidaemia. Over 50%. . . [Full text of this article]

Geoffrey I Hackett, consultant in urology (sexual medicine)¹

¹ Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B75 7RR

geoffhackett@fsmail.net

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