Erectile dysfunction linked to cardiovascular death
Normal erectile function was associated with a 65% relative reduction in cardiovascular death compared with severe dysfunction over a median follow-up of 10 years.
Our read
Biomarkers- Studied:
- Cohort study of 2,445 patients with prostate cancer, median 10 years
- What changed:
- Cardiovascular death was 65% lower among patients with normal erectile function than among those with severe dysfunction
- The catch:
- Unmeasured cardiovascular health differences between erectile-function groups could explain the association
- Why it’s aging research:
- It bears on staying healthy in midlife and later life.
Editor of record: Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
The 2,445 prostate cancer patients in this observational study received low-dose-rate brachytherapy, a form of internal radiation, between 2001 and 2018. Before treatment, patients completed a questionnaire about erectile function without medication or mechanical aids. Scores placed them in severe dysfunction, mild/moderate dysfunction or normal-function groups.
Over a median follow-up of 10 years, normal erectile function was associated with a 65% relative reduction in cardiovascular death compared with severe dysfunction. The association remained after adjustment for age, existing cardiovascular disease and other measured risk factors. Erectile dysfunction severity was not associated with death from prostate cancer.
Why it matters
Prostate cancer care may offer an opportunity to use erectile-function assessments to identify cardiovascular risk earlier and consider preventive care.
Caveats
The analysis could not rule out unmeasured differences in cardiovascular health between erectile-function groups. All patients received prostate brachytherapy, so the findings may not apply to people without prostate cancer or those receiving other treatments.
Comments
Be the first to comment.