Heart Disease Risk Factors Predict Erectile Dysfunction 25 Years Later (The Rancho Bernardo Study)

We prospectively examined common coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors (age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and obesity) in 570 community-dwelling men, aged 30 to 69 years (mean age, 46 years) at baseline. After an average follow-up period of 25 years, incident erectile dysfunction (ED) was evaluated by the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function. Age, body mass index, and hypercholesterolemia were each significantly associated with an increased risk of ED. In all, 1 in 5 men had ≥3 risk factors and were at a 2.2-fold increased risk of ED. Improving CAD risk factors in midlife may decrease ED risk as well as CAD risk.