Chances Of Heart Disease Following Impotence Examined By Researchers

strongly predictive of future cardiovascular problems

While many doctors and researchers believe that there is a definite link between the onset of erectile dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular illnesses there isn’t much published data on the statistical likelihood of suffering from heart problems when the erectile problems become apparent.

A new study undertaken by the Keogh Institute for Medical Research in Perth, Australia recently set out to examine the statistics and investigate the rates of cardiovascular problems subsequent to the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction. The study was done by looking at retrospective health information in a group of men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction and also examining morbidity data and death registrations at hospitals. By correlating the data it was possible to estimate the subsequent likelihood of heart disease after diagnosis of erectile dysfunction and to compare this to the rates of heart disease in men who had normal erectile function.

From the data which was collected from almost 1,700 men with erectile dysfunction it was seen that there was a maximum of a 2.2 times greater chance of suffering from heart disease if erectile dysfunction was reported especially if the erectile dysfunction manifested at an early age. Researchers also observed the usual links to the likelihood of heart disease such as smoking, and also a low socioeconomic position.

The researchers concluded that erectile dysfunction must not only be ‘associated with’ but should also be ‘strongly predictive’ of future cardiovascular problems especially those related to atherosclerosis.