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Erectile Dysfunction and Coronary Artery Disease-the Practice Points

Manjunath Desai, Guruprasad Naik, Umesh S Kamat, Jagadisg A Cacodcar, Stanislaus Pinto

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a leading cause of morbidity and death. Erectile dysfunction (ED) and Coronary artery disease (CAD) share a common pool of risk factors. Risk factors such as Diabetes, Hypertension, smoking and alcohol consumption display a significant co-relation with ED; and these patients are almost three times more likely to have a coronary blockade when compared to those not reporting ED. A complex interplay between Atherosclerosis, Vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction mark the pathophysiological cascade that underlies these disorders, with endothelial dysfunction being the major component affecting different vascular beds of various diameters. Endothelial dysfunction plays a key role in the progression of atherosclerosis, contributing to exaggerated intimal proliferation and dysregulation of the inflammatory processes. It has been well studied that patients with ED tend to develop a severe CAD with multiple vessel involvement compared to those without ED. This concurrence between ED and CAD, therefore, makes a strong ground for routine inquiry into the sexual history of young males with one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, it forms an important component in quality of life of men.