Abstract
Available data make a strong argument for the role of erectile dysfunction (ED) as an early marker of cardiovascular disease. Patients with coronary artery disease very often have ED, and, importantly, patients presenting with ED as their initial condition have an increased prevalence of silent coronary artery disease. Most importantly, ED is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. Therefore, assessment and management of ED may play an important role in identifying and reducing the risk for cardiovascular events. Cardiovascular risk assessment using conventional risk factor algorithms is important for initial risk stratification. Risk is further evaluated via determination of presence or absence of additional cardiovascular risk factors and exercise stress testing. Additionally, a growing body of evidence supports the use of a number of easily measured vascular or circulating biomarkers to further characterize risk for cardiovascular events in men with ED, but few have been evaluated in this population.
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Charalambos Vlachopoulos, Nikolaos Ioakeimidis, and Christodoulos Stefanadis declare that they have no conflict of interest.
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Vlachopoulos, C., Ioakeimidis, N. & Stefanadis, C. Determining the Prognostic Implications of Erectile Dysfunction for Future Cardiovascular Disease with Noninvasive Testing. Curr Sex Health Rep 6, 145–154 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-014-0020-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11930-014-0020-z