Erectile Dysfunction and Stroke Risk
There’s a relationship between erectile dysfunction and stroke risk. Three studies have reported that having erectile dysfunction may be associated not only with an increased risk of stroke but of developing cancer as well.
Erectile Dysfunction and Stroke Risk: Studies
In the stroke study, researchers followed 1,501 men who had erectile dysfunction and 7,505 controls over five years. Strokes occurred in 12.5 percent of the men who had erectile dysfunction and in 9.7 percent of controls. The investigators noted that this indicated erectile dysfunction is an indicator for stroke in men. (Chung August 2010)
In a subsequent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2011), investigators evaluated data from 12 studies. They noted that “ED significantly increases the risk of CVD, coronary heart disease,stroke, and all-cause mortality, and the increase is probably independent of conventional cardiovascular risk factors.” (Dong 2011)
Risk of Cancer
In another study, researchers followed 1,882 men with erectile dysfunction and 9,410 men without erectile dysfunction for five years. Cancer was diagnosed in 2.3 percent of men who had erectile dysfunction and in 1.6 percent of those without the condition. This represented a 42 percent increased risk for cancer among men with erectile dysfunction. The researchers note, however, that information about the participants’ smoking habits was not available. Because smoking is a risk factor in erectile dysfunction and cancer, it remains a question in this study. (Chung October 2010)
See also
Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Attack Risk
Chung SD et al. Increased risk of cancer following erectile dysfunction: a nationwide population-based follow-up study. J Sex Med 2010 Oct 18
Chung SD et al. Increased risk of stroke among men with erectile dysfunction: a nationwide population-based follow-up study. J Sex Med 2010 Aug 13
Dong JY et al. Erectile dysfunction and risk of cardiovascular disease: meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Am Coll Cardiol 2011 Sep 20; 58(13): 1378-85
