A new study conducted at the University of Texas has revealed that men suffering from impotence/erectile dysfunction are more likely to develop heart problems compared to their counterparts. More than 100 million men are believed to be afflicted with the disease worldwide with approximately 10 million in the US alone.
There are many factors that contribute to this disease including age, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, depression and hypertension and such people have a higher risk of subsequent cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, and angina, says the study by Ian M. Thompson and colleagues at University of Texas Health Science Centre at San Antonio.The researchers studied a group of men aged 55 years or older who were assessed for ED and subsequent cardiovascular disease over the course of seven years, reported Newswise wire.
They found a strong association between ED and subsequent development of clinical cardiovascular events.
Seventy to 89 percent of sudden cardiac deaths occur in men who do not have regular physical examinations.
This analysis suggests that the initial presentation of a man with ED should prompt the evaluating physician to screen for standard cardiovascular risk factors and, as appropriate, initiate cardio-protective interventions.
While a full cardiovascular evaluation is not necessary in response to findings of ED in asymptomatic patients, such findings should prompt diligent observation of at-risk men and reinforces the need for intervention for cardiovascular risk factors," the researchers conclude.
--Edited IANS
