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Impotence (Erectile dysfunction)

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of erectile dysfunction.

Highlights

Drug Warning

In 2005, the FDA added warnings of partial vision loss to the labels of sidenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). It is not certain if the risk for vision loss (a condition called non-arteric anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or NAION) is related to the medications or the vascular disease conditions that cause erectile dysfunction (ED). Patients who use these drugs and experience vision loss should immediately stop the medication and contact their doctor.

Risk Factors

Older age is the main risk factor for ED. Nearly 80% of men ages 75 and older experience ED. However, according to a 2006 study, other physical and lifestyle factors greatly increase the risk for ED:

• Diabetes (by 169%)
• Current smoking (by 74%)
• Obesity (by 60%)
• High blood pressure (by 56%)

ED and Heart Disease

Recent research strongly suggests that ED may be an important warning sign of heart disease:

• In a 2006 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine , ED was a stronger predictor of coronary artery disease (CAD) than smoking, family history, cholesterol levels, or blood pressure.
• Men with ED are at increased risk for angina, heart attack, and stroke, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association .
• ED may indicate that CAD is developing, even in men without typical heart disease risk factors, suggests a study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology .
• Men with ED have a 46% greater risk of heart disease than men without erectile problems, according to research presented at the 2006 American Urological Association annual meeting.
• Researchers recommend that doctors ask men about their ED status to determine who may be at risk for heart disease. Patients with ED should receive a complete heart disease evaluation.

• Review Date: 6/27/2006
• Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital

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