Cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease share the same risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking, all of which are implicated in causing endothelial dysfunction. In this review, an overview is given on the role of endothelium in the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and the metabolic syndrome as well as the links between them.

Current literature offers strong evidence that endothelial dysfunction and erectile dysfunction are linked. Erectile dysfunction appears to be one of the earliest signs of systemic vascular disease and might be considered as an early marker for subclinical cardiovascular disease. Obesity is one of the many risk factors for cardiovascular disease and is also associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance, which together define the metabolic syndrome. Experimental, clinical, and epidemiologic studies support the association between metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

The above-mentioned risk factors are a potential threat to the penile endothelium and the smooth muscle tissue leading to functional and structural changes. These important pathophysiologic factors are the foundation for the strong link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. Recent literature supports the link between metabolic syndrome and erectile dysfunction and highlights metabolic syndrome as a potential risk factor for the development of erectile dysfunction.