The Role Erectile Dysfunction Plays in Cardiovascular Diseases

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to maintain or achieve a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance (1-2). ED is a very common condition in middle-aged men (3). According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) this physiological disorder affects 30 million men in the United States (US) (2). The outlook for 2025 is scary because this number is expected to grow to approximately 322 million (4). Although ED is directly associated with aging (5), its etiology is considered multifactorial. Both conditions, ED and aging, share a variety of risk factors such as atherosclerosis, sedentary lifestyle, abnormal lipids, diabetes, smoking, metabolic syndrome and hypertension (2, 6-7). In addition, ED is considered an important marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (8). Studies over the last decade suggest vascular changes as a common factor between ED and CVD (1, 7, 9). Also, the most important vascular alteration mentioned in these pathologies cited above is endothelial dysfunction. According to several authors, endothelial and smooth muscle dysfunction are crucial factors involved in systemic and peripheral vascular diseases, especially ED (10). In this chapter we will discuss the association between the main CVD and ED.