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Is erectile dysfunction a predictor of cardiovascular events or stroke? A prospective study using a validated questionnaire

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 22, pages 25–29 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is linked to various cardiovascular risk factors and may therefore serve as a predictor of cardiovascular events. To gain further insight into this relationship, we reviewed all data regarding hospital admission for cardial or cerebral vascular disease that occurred until 2008 in a cohort of men who underwent a health investigation in 2001. Erectile function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire. In total, 2506 men with a negative history of cardial or cerebral vascular disease were analysed. During the 6.5-year follow-up, 58 cardiovascular events (2.3%) occurred. Men without ED (IIEF-5 >22; n=1636) at baseline developed a cardiovascular event in 1.9% (n=32) as compared with 2.9% (+52%; n=26) in those with ED (IIEF-5 ⩽22; n=670). In contrast to age (hazard ratio (HR): 1.6; 1.2–1.8 for every decade), hypertension (HR: 1.88; 1.1–3.1) and diabetes (HR: 2.6; 1.2–5.8), ED was not an independent risk factor for a cardiovascular event. Although men with ED were at increased risk for future cardiovascular events, ED was not an age-independent predictor of cardiovascular events in our cohort.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by unrestricted educational grants provided by Lilly Austria and Bayer Health Care Austria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology and Andrology, Danube Hospital, Vienna, Austria

    A Ponholzer & S Madersbacher

  2. Department of Medical Statistics, Medical University, Vienna, Austria

    G Gutjahr

  3. Department of Preventive Health, City of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    C Temml

Authors
  1. A Ponholzer
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  2. G Gutjahr
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  3. C Temml
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  4. S Madersbacher
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Correspondence to A Ponholzer.

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Ponholzer, A., Gutjahr, G., Temml, C. et al. Is erectile dysfunction a predictor of cardiovascular events or stroke? A prospective study using a validated questionnaire. Int J Impot Res 22, 25–29 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2009.40

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