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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
04:22
Treatment Model for Young Patients with Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction and Resultant Infertility
Published on: May 30, 2025
Sexual activity, erectile dysfunction, and incident cardiovascular events
Susan A Hall1, Rebecca Shackelton, Raymond C Rosen
1New England Research Institutes, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA. shall@neriscience.com
The American Journal of Cardiology
|January 28, 2010
Summary
Low frequency of sexual activity predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk independently of erectile dysfunction (ED). Screening for sexual activity may aid in clinical CVD risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Urology
- Public Health
Background:
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor.
- Limited research exists on other sexual function aspects predicting CVD independently of ED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if sexual function variables, beyond ED, predict subsequent CVD development.
- To determine the independent predictive value of sexual activity frequency for CVD risk.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal, population-based study (Massachusetts Male Aging Study) of 1,165 men.
- Assessment of sexual function (including ED) and CVD endpoints via self-report, medical records, and National Death Index.
- Cox proportional hazards models used for adjusted risk estimation.
Main Results:
- Age-adjusted CVD incidence rate was higher in men with moderate/complete ED (17.9/1000 person-years) vs. none/minimal ED (12.5/1000 person-years).
- Low frequency of sexual activity (≤1/month) was associated with increased CVD risk (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.04-2.01) after adjusting for confounders, ED, and Framingham risk score.
- Sexual activity frequency emerged as an independent predictor of CVD.
Conclusions:
- A low frequency of sexual activity independently predicts cardiovascular disease.
- Sexual activity screening may offer clinical utility for CVD risk assessment.
- Further research into the interplay between sexual health and cardiovascular outcomes is warranted.
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