Cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome risk among men with and without erectile dysfunction: case-control study

Erectile dysfunction has been associated with cardiovascular diseases. The aim here was to evaluate cardiovascular risk through the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) criteria, C-reactive protein (CRP) assays and presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in men with and without erectile dysfunction diagnosed within a healthcare program.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted. The patients were selected from a healthcare program at the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, between January and December 2007.

222 men were retrospectively selected, and they were divided into two groups: men with erectile dysfunction (n = 111) and men without erectile dysfunction (n = 111). The patients were stratified according to the International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function domain (IIEF-EF domain). CRP and FRS were analyzed and the two groups were compared.

The CRP levels were significantly higher among men with erectile dysfunction (P = 0.04). Patients with erectile dysfunction also had high FRS (P = 0.0015). CRP and FRS did not correlate with the severity of erectile dysfunction. The presence of metabolic syndrome was greater among men with erectile dysfunction (P < 0.05). The severity of erectile dysfunction was directly associated with metabolic syndrome.

Men with erectile dysfunction presented higher cardiovascular risk according to the FRS criteria and CRP measurements. Severe erectile dysfunction seemed to have a correlation with metabolic syndrome.