Background
Erectile dysfunction (ED) as a form of vascular disorder of the penis has a cause in common with other cardiovascular diseases in atherosclerosis.
Objective
Is there a link between ED and other cardiovascular risks in men? Can a possible connection be used predictively in the case of ED?
Material and Methods
Evaluation and discussion of currently available basic studies and review articles on this topic.
Results
Diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and ED are partly interdependent and reinforcing health risks in men, with ED and cardiac events having a common cause in atherosclerosis; however, the arteries of the penis are much finer than, for example, the coronary arteries of the heart, which is why changes in the penis usually show up much earlier in life.
Conclusion
An ED induced by vascular risk factors can be diagnosed by using non-invasive penile Doppler ultrasound. This makes a risk-adapted treatment of the patient possible, depending on the individual cardiovascular risk profile. Thus, ED is to be regarded as a useful tool to predict cardiovascular risks, with approximately 3–5 years of prior notice.