ED as a ‘Marker’ for Coronary Disease in Diabetics

More than 2 years ago the manufacturer of Levitra® - one of the effective drugs for erectile dysfunction, or ED – claimed a link between ED, high blood pressure, and raised cholesterol. This was soon followed by reports that cardiovascular events (e.g. heart attack, angina, or stroke) are more frequent in men with ED. Now comes confirmation that ED increases the risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetics – a group of people who are already at an increased risk of developing blood pressure and cholesterol problems.

Two studies were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The first, from China, followed over 2,300 men (average age 54), who were free of any cardiovascular symptoms or signs, for an average of 4 years. The frequency of cardiovascular disease during follow-up was twice as great in those men with ED, while diabetic men with ED had a 1.6 times greater risk of a cardiovascular event than those without ED.

The second study was done in Italy. Men with type 2 diabetes and symptom-free but radiographic evidence of coronary artery disease were enrolled. Over an average follow-up period of 4 years, 49 men developed a major cardiac event (death, heart attack, heat failure, angina, stroke, and need for angioplasty). These subjects had an ED frequency of 61%, compared with 36% in those without a cardiac event. Analyses showed that statin use, and to a lesser extent, Viagra®-like medications, were associated with a lower rate of cardiovascular events.

The message? If you have ED, don’t just take Viagra®, Cialis®, or Levitra®, but ask you doctor for a full cardiovascular work-up, and take the necessary steps to try and reduce the atherosclerotic load on your arteries. That might well take care of the ED, too.