The relationship between erectile dysfunction (ED) and endothelial dysfunction has been described and is associated with adverse cardiac events. Endothelial dysfunction is believed to precede erectile dysfunction.
Our objective was to characterize the prevalence of subjective ED, endothelial dysfunction and commonly related comorbidities among a population of men undergoing wellness screening.
205 men presented for wellness screening. They underwent testing for endothelial dysfunction via peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT) and completed a health-screening questionnaire. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) scores were generated via PAT testing. A RHI score of ≤ 1. 67 defined endothelial dysfunction. Student t-tests and Fischer exact tests were performed for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The association of endothelial dysfunction, ED and various comorbidities was calculated using univariate and multivariable analyses.
47 of 205 men reported subjective ED. Median age was 44 years old. The mean RHI for ED patients was significantly lower than non-ED patients (1. 63 vs 1. 87 respectively; p = 0. 001). Endothelial dysfunction was more common among men with ED than without ED (55% vs 36% respectively; p = 0. 027). Multivariable analysis revealed that men with ED and obesity were twofold more likely to have concomitant endothelial dysfunction (OR 2. 45; 95% CI, 1. 13 - 4. 24; p = 0. 02 and OR 2. 08; 95% CI, 1. 16 - 3. 75; p = 0. 01, respectively).
Among middle-aged men presenting for wellness screening, ED and obesity independently predict endothelial dysfunction, a known risk factor for long-term adverse cardiac events.
The Journal of urology. 2015 Nov 22 [Epub ahead of print]
Charles C Peyton, Marc A Colaco, Robert Caleb Kovell, Jung H Kim, Ryan Terlecki
Wake Forest School of Medicine Department of Urology Medical Center Blvd Winston Salem, NC 27157. , Wake Forest School of Medicine Department of Urology Medical Center Blvd Winston Salem, NC 27157. , Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Department of Urology 800 Walnut Street, Floor 19, Philadelphia, PA 19107. , Wake Forest School of Medicine, House Staff, Medical Center Blvd, Winston Salem, NC 27157. , Wake Forest School of Medicine Medical Center Boulevard Winston Salem, NC 27157.