Hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction as harbingers of systemic disease

Abstract

Prescription sales of Testosterone and erectile aids such as phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors are at an all-time high, underscoring the importance of hypogonadism (HG) and erectile dysfunction (ED) to men’s health. The effect of these debilitating conditions has a major impact on the quality of men’s lives. Some risk factors for HG or ED including aging, obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. Notably, these are the same risk factors for several other medical co-morbidities that contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in men. HG and ED often co-exist with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. This review will explore these three co-morbidities that overlap with HG and ED, and will provide a review of their relationship with each other.

Gaps in the management of diabetes in Asia: A need for improved awareness and strategies in men's sexual health

“…The artery size hypothesis suggests that erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease represent two spectrums of atherosclerosis; smaller penile arteries are involved in erectile dysfunction, whilst larger coronary arteries are generally affected in coronary artery disease 83 . Hence, erectile dysfunction can be a harbinger of cardiovascular disease 84 , 85 . Males with type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction had increased risk of angiographically verified asymptomatic coronary artery disease (OR 14.8, 95% CI 3.8–56.9).…”

Correlations of Self-Reported Androgen Deficiency in Ageing Males (ADAM) with Stress and Sleep among Young Adult Males

“…However, the widespread rise of obesity, and its accompanying host of co-morbidities, including type 2 diabetes (T2DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and metabolic syndrome (MetS), is changing long-held assumptions about hormonal disruptions. Male hypogonadism has been found to positively correlate with all three of these co-morbid conditions [2,3,4,5,6]. Although prevalence rates are difficult to assess for individuals with CVD and MetS, in males with T2DM, hypogonadism prevalence is estimated to be 33–50% [7].…”