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Erectile dysfunction as a harbinger for increased cardiometabolic risk

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 20, pages 236–242 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

In August 2003, the Minority Health Institute (MHI) convened an Expert Advisory Panel of cardiologists and urologists to design a new practice model algorithm that uses erectile dysfunction (ED) as a clinical tool for early identification of men with systemic vascular disease. The MHI algorithm noted ED as a marker for the presence of cardiovascular disease and suggested that ED may well be a cardiovascular risk equivalent warranting aggressive secondary prevention management strategies, even in the absence of other cardiac or peripheral vascular symptoms. The MHI algorithm stipulates that all men 25 years of age and older should be asked about ED as a routine part of the cardiovascular history during any office visit. The presence of ED should prompt an aggressive assessment for occult vascular disease; many men with erectile difficulty would benefit from early, aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors with both lifestyle modification and pharmacotherapy to achieve optimal target goals under the existing treatment guidelines. Since publication of the algorithm in 2005, additional research studies have further supported the advisory panel recommendations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    K L Billups

  2. Department of Urology, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    K L Billups

  3. St Paul Heart Clinic, St Paul, MN, USA

    A J Bank

  4. University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    A J Bank

  5. Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    H Padma-Nathan

  6. Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    S D Katz

  7. David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    R A Williams

  8. Minority Health Institute Inc., Beverly Hills, CA, USA

    R A Williams

Authors
  1. K L Billups
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  2. A J Bank
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  3. H Padma-Nathan
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  4. S D Katz
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  5. R A Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K L Billups.

Additional information

Abbreviations

A/B index, ankle/brachial index; BP, blood pressure; CAD, coronary artery disease; CV, cardiovascular; CVD, cardiovascular disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; ED, erectile dysfunction; ETT, exercise treadmill testing; FBS, fasting blood sugar; FLP, fasting lipoproteins; H and P, history and physical; HTN, hypertension; PDE5 inhibitor, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; VSD, vacuum suction devices.

Conflict of Interest

Dr Billups—research/grant support/speakers' bureau (Pfizer Inc.); consultation (Pfizer Inc., Bayer, Eli Lilly); stock holdings (none).

Dr Bank—consultancy, honoraria, research grants (Pfizer Inc.).

Dr Padma-Nathan—research support/consultation (Pfizer Inc., Bayer/GSK, Lilly ICOS, Novartis, Lilly, Schering Plough, Dong A, Vivus, Sepracor, TAP Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Labs, Palatin Technologies, Nastech); lecturer (Pfizer Inc., Bayer/GSK); stock (none, inclusive of family members).

Dr Katz—honoraria, research support (Pfizer Inc.).

Dr Williams—honoraria, consultation, research support (Nitromed, Pfizer Inc., AstraZeneca).

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Billups, K., Bank, A., Padma-Nathan, H. et al. Erectile dysfunction as a harbinger for increased cardiometabolic risk. Int J Impot Res 20, 236–242 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3901634

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