title: Erectile dysfunction in the cardiovascular patient.
abstract: Erectile dysfunction is common in the patient with cardiovascular disease. It is an important component of the quality of life and it also confers an independent risk for future cardiovascular events. The usual 3-year time period between the onset of erectile dysfunction symptoms and a cardiovascular event offers an opportunity for risk mitigation. Thus, sexual function should be incorporated into cardiovascular disease risk assessment for all men. A comprehensive approach to cardiovascular risk reduction (comprising of both lifestyle changes and pharmacological treatment) improves overall vascular health, including sexual function. Proper sexual counselling improves the quality of life and increases adherence to medication. This review explores the critical connection between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease and evaluates how this relationship may influence clinical practice. Algorithms for the management of patient with erectile dysfunction according to the risk for sexual activity and future cardiovascular events are proposed.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Athens Medical School, Profiti Elia 24, Athens 14575, Greece. cvlachop@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulos
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montorsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000465:Algorithms; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D018783:Impotence, Vasculogenic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012731:Sex Counseling; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000172:deficiency / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors; D013739:Testosterone
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Erectile dysfunction; Sexual counselling