[Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease in clinical practice]

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a disorder with a well-established organic basis. ED is considered as a sentinel event for cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD co-occurs frequently with ED suggesting that each of the condition might be a marker for the other. They share multiple risk factors and the common link is the injury to the endothelial function. Simple and accurate ED assessment tools offer to physicians a quick method to evaluate ED in their patients. Recognition and treatment of CVD risk factors has a major impact in management of CVD and ED. The Princeton Consensus Conference guidelines provides an algorithm for evaluating CVD associated with sexual activity for men with varying degrees of cardiovascular risk. ED can be treated safely and effectively in most men who have concomitant CVD.