Assessment of cardiovascular risk in patients with erectile dysfunction: focus on the diabetic patient

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is commonly associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes. The prevalence of ED in diabetic patients is high--about 75% of diabetic men 60 yr of age or older had ED in one study. Endothelial dysfunction, accelerated atherosclerosis, and diabetic neuropathy likely contribute to ED in diabetics. As silent ischemia is common in the diabetic patient, and diabetes is now often thought of as a coronary heart disease risk equivalent, diabetic men seeking therapy for ED may be considered candidates for exercise stress testing. Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors improve erectile function in diabetic men with ED; however, efficacy rates may be somewhat lower than in nondiabetic men. Studies to date have suggested that PDE5 inhibitors per se do not cause an increase in myocardial infarction rates in men being treated for ED.