SUNDAY, June 15 (HealthDay News) -- Erectile dysfunction could
be an indicator of testosterone deficiency and the metabolic
syndrome, a set of factors that may indicate an increased risk of
heart and vascular disease and type 2 diabetes, a new international
study shows.
"Erectile dysfunction is a portal into men's health," the
study's senior author, Dr. Aksam Yassin, of the Clinic for Urology
and Andrology of the Segeberger Clinics in Norderstedt, Germany,
wrote in a prepared statement.
"It is becoming clear that obesity, diabetes, high blood
pressure, cholesterol problems and erectile difficulties are
intertwined, and a common denominator is testosterone
deficiency."
The research, conducted by scientists from The Netherlands,
Germany and the United Arab Emirates, was expected to be presented
over the weekend at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San
Francisco.
Yassin recommended that men with erectile dysfunction be
evaluated for testosterone deficiency and any underlying signs of
the metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome has any three of the following
characteristics:
- Increased abdominal fat.
- Low HDL ("good") cholesterol.
- High triglycerides (fats in the blood).
- High blood pressure.
- High blood sugar.
The findings are based on screenings for testosterone
deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, and metabolic syndrome done
on 771 patients seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Among the results:
- 18.3 percent of those studied had previously undetected
testosterone deficiency, slighter higher than the 12 percent
average for men older than 45.
- 35 percent had type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- 31 percent had high blood pressure.
- 21 percent had dyslipidemia -- abnormal cholesterol or
triglycerides.
- 14 percent had varying degrees of coronary heart disease.
In each group, a small handful of those diagnosed did not know
they had the condition before the screening, Yassin said.
More information
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases has more about
erectile dysfunction.
