Erectile Dysfunction and Risk of Clinical Cardiovascular Events: A Meta-Analysis of Seven Cohort Studies
Wenbin Guo MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCun Liao MM
Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China;
Search for more papers by this authorYaguang Zou PhD
Department of stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Search for more papers by this authorFei Li MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorTieqiu Li MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorQizhao Zhou MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorYunfei Cao PhD
Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xiangming Mao PhD
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Xiangming Mao, PhD, Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R.China. Tel: +86-020-627-87210; Fax: +86-020-627-87210; E-mail: [email protected] Yunfei Cao, PhD, Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R.China. Tel: +86-771-5356529; Fax: +86-771-5356529; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorWenbin Guo MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCun Liao MM
Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China;
Search for more papers by this authorYaguang Zou PhD
Department of stomatology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Search for more papers by this authorFei Li MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorTieqiu Li MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorQizhao Zhou MM
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Search for more papers by this authorYunfei Cao PhD
Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China;
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Xiangming Mao PhD
Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;
Xiangming Mao, PhD, Department of Urology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R.China. Tel: +86-020-627-87210; Fax: +86-020-627-87210; E-mail: [email protected] Yunfei Cao, PhD, Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, P.R.China. Tel: +86-771-5356529; Fax: +86-771-5356529; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorDrs. Guo and Liao contributed equally to the manuscript.
ABSTRACT
Introduction. For many years, erectile dysfunction (ED) has been considered as a complication of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or regarded as a late consequence of generalized arterial disease. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that ED is an early manifestation of atherosclerosis and a precursor to systemic vascular disease.
Aim. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between ED and the risk of CVD events.
Methods. Relevant studies published between January 1966 and September 2009 were identified by searching Medline, Embase, and The Cochrane Library. Studies were selected using a prior defined criteria. The strength of the relationship between ED and CVD events was assessed by adjusted relative risks (RRs).
Main Outcome Measures. The adjusted RRs of CVD events.
Results. A total of 45,558 participants from seven cohort studies (eight full-text articles) were identified in this meta-analysis. The studies provided adjusted RRs estimates for ED subjects comparing with health subjects, leading to a pooled adjusted RR of 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29–1.66, P < 0.001; P for heterogeneity = 0.152; I2 = 36.2%) for CVD events. The risks of CVD, all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction were 1.41 (95% CI, 1.22–1.64 P < 0.001), 1.23 (95% CI, 1.02–1.48; P = 0.034), and 1.43 (95% CI, 1.10–1.85 P = 0.007), respectively. The overall adjusted RR decreased significant from 1.63 (<7 years) to 1.37 (≥7 years) along with the elongation of follow-up.
Conclusions. There is evidence of an increased risk of CVD events for patients with ED. Patients who are discovered to have ED are supposed to be thoroughly assessed for cardiovascular risk and occult systemic vascular disease. Guo W, Liao C, Zou Y, Li F, Li T, Zhou Q, Cao Y, and Mao X. Erectile dysfunction and risk of clinical cardiovascular events: A meta-analysis of seven cohort studies. J Sex Med 2010;7:2805–2816.
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