New alert over link between impotence and heart disease

An extensive review of research has found that a significant proportion of men with erectile dysfunction (ED) show early signs of coronary artery disease (CAD).

The study, which involved researchers in Edinburgh, said it was vital doctors dealt with any heart problems in patients before treating the impotence.

The latest research, published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, looked at more than 100 studies into the link between ED and CAD.

Researchers found that men with impotence often developed heart symptoms in two to three years, and could suffer a heart attack in three to five years. They discovered that ED in otherwise healthy men and those with Type 2 diabetes may be linked with early signs of CAD, including reduced blood flow and clogged arteries.

Impotence was also found to be linked to an increased risk of death – mostly through its association with CAD.

A number of studies in recent years have tried to quantify the increased risk, the researchers said. One study found that men aged between 30 and 39 with moderate to severe ED had a 14 per cent higher risk of developing CAD within ten years than men without ED.

This figure rose to 27 per cent in men aged 60 to 69.

The researchers suggested that the link between the two conditions could be due to atherosclerosis – a systemic condition where plaque builds up inside the arteries, leading to restricted blood flow.

Lead researcher Dr Graham Jackson said: "It has been suggested that because the arteries supplying the penis are smaller than those supplying the heart, they will be affected by reduced blood flow – a major cause of ED – before the symptoms of CAD develop. This theory may underpin the findings that men with ED seldom report overt symptoms of CAD, but those with CAD often report pre-existing ED symptoms."

The researchers said that the evidence they had gathered should encourage further work into the link. "Recognising the relationship between ED and CAD will improve and save lives," said Dr Jackson. "That is why wider awareness of the links is essential."

Judy O'Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at British Heart Foundation, said: "This shows again why it's so important for men to talk to their doctor about impotence, because it could be an early sign of heart and circulation disease.

"Men with impotence should be offered a health check where appropriate, and risk factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes should be treated aggressively.

"Unfortunately, many men are too embarrassed to report impotence and this negatively impacts on their quality of life and their risk of heart disease."