Association Between Erectile Dysfunction and Asymptomatic Cardiovascular Damage in Middle-Aged Men

作者：Dzenkeviciute Vilma^*; Petrulioniene Zaneta; Sapoka Virginijus; Kasiulevicius Vytautas

来源：Medicina-Lithuania, 2013, 49(12): 510-516.

• metabolic syndrome
• pulse wave velocity
• carotid artery intima media thickness
• left ventricular mass index
• erectile dysfunction

Background and Objective. It has been proposed that the same cardiovascular risk (CV) factors predispose middle-aged men to the development of both coronary artery disease and erectile dysED). Moreover, several recently published studies have identified ED as a possible early marker of CV disease. The aim of this particular study was to evaluate the association between ED and early asymptomatic heart and vascular damage in middle-aged men with CV risk factors. %26lt;br%26gt;Material and Methods. In this case-control study, the International Index of Erectile IIEF) questionnaire was employed to assess the erectile function of the study participants and to allocate them either into the ED group (N=21; mean IIEF score, 18.15 [SD, 2.54]; mean age, 48.2 years [SD, 4.4]) or the control group (N=24; mean IIEF score, 23.45 [SD, 0.99]; mean age, 46.8 years [SD, 3.1]). Additionally, pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, pulse pressure, carotid intima media thickness (IMT), and atherosclerotic plaque count were determined, and echocardiography was performed in every subject. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. The mean IMT and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of both carotid arteries in the ED group were significantly higher when compared with controls (598.57 vs. 535.54 mm(center dot)10(-3), P=0.03, and 107.26 vs. 98.67 g/m(2), P=0.04, respectively). Using multiple regression analysis, an independent association between the IIEF score and the LVMI was found (P=0.002). No significant differences in the results of pulse wave velocity, atherosclerotic plaque count, and other laboratory tests were found between the 2 study groups. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions. The study suggests that ED is associated with a higher LVMI and may be an early marker of CV disease.

• 出版日期2013