According to a recent study, vasculogenic erectile dysfunction is a tell-tale sign of more vicious and harmful atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) events.

The study spearheaded by Dr. Kew Kim Chew, senior clinical fellow and physician at the Keogh Institute for Medical Research, provides evidence that the two conditions are symptoms of atherosclerosis from endothelial dysfunction. Although, the relationship between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular illnesses has been studied several times, only recent research has produced satisfactory evidence.

“In both conditions, endothelial dysfunction is affirmed by increased plasma levels of biomarkers of systemic inflammation, such as the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-6, interleukin-8 and interleukin-18 (secreted proteins the immune system largely depends upon), as well as high sensitivity C-reactive proteins (known to rise in numbers in response to inflammation)”, said Dr Chew.

“ED is thus very much a manifestation of generalised vascular endothelial disease in the penile vascular bed”, he added. According to the research, erectile dysfunction is mostly caused by cardiovascular diseases. The findings of the research apply to most of the impotence sufferers—especially the younger men.

The research showed that incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for subsequent atherosclerotic CV events were seven times higher in men less than 40 years of age, compared to the IRRs in men aged 70 to 79 years.

“The inference from the finding is that the risk of a CV event is many times higher if and when ED presents in younger men, and the awareness of this should lead to conscientious investigation for CV risk in these younger men with view to exclusion, prevention and minimization of such risk”, said Dr. Kew Kim Chew.