Journal List > Korean J Urol > v.50(7) > 1005373

Bae, Sohn, Kim, Kim, Hong, Lee, Cho, and Kim: The Correlation between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Penile Hemodynamic Parameters in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract

Purpose

The cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) is mostly organic in nature and is associated with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, the presence of ED has been shown to be related to cardiovascular risk factors such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), and hyperlipidemia. This study evaluated the correlation between cardiovascular risk factors and penile hemodynamic parameters in men with ED.

Materials and Methods

The relationship between vascular risk factors and penile hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in a total of 149 men with ED. The patients were stratified according to the type and number of risk factors present. Each patient underwent a penile duplex Doppler ultrasound study after injections of intracavernous prostaglandin E1 to evaluate penile blood flow parameters. The rates of arterial insufficiency, venoocclusive dysfunction, and nonvascular etiologies were also evaluated. These results were statistically compared with those from patients with ED without vascular risk factors.

Results

The poorest blood flow was found in patients with ED with DM. Arterial insufficiency was most prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease and DM (p<0.05). Venoocclusive dysfunction was observed most often in hypertensive patients with ED. Abnormal penile blood flow parameters correlated with the number of vascular risk factors present.

Conclusions

This study shows that cardiovascular risk factors are associated with abnormal penile blood flow. In addition, the number of risk factors is correlated with an increased probability of having abnormal blood flow parameters.

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Characteristics of men with ED with a single vascular risk factor
kju-50-689-i001

Data are expressed as Mean±SD (standard deviation). ED: erectile dysfunction, VRF: vascular risk factor, CAD: coronary artery disease, DM: diabetes mellitus, PSV: peak systolic velocity, EDV: end-diastolic velocity, AI: arterial insufficiency, VOD: venoocclusive dysfunction, a: statistically significant, p<0.05, b: one-way ANOVA, c: chi-square test

Table 2
Summary of results according to number of vascular risk factors
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Data are expressed as Mean±SD (standard deviation). VRF: vascular risk factor, PSV: peak systolic velocity, EDV: end-diastolic velocity, AI: arterial insufficiency, VOD: venoocclusive dysfunction, a: one-way ANOVA, b: chi-square test

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