Men with Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Demonstrate Increased Risk of Calcified Coronary Arteries
Natan Bar-Chama, MD, and his team presented findings to the American Urological Association correlating ED with elevated Coronary Artery Calcium Scores (CACS), a marker correlated with increased risk of coronary events.

NEW YORK, NY, June 10, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- In the largest study done to date, RMA of New York's Dr. Natan Bar-Chama and his associates presented ground-breaking research that determined men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are at a significantly increased risk of high coronary artery calcification scores (CACS), a known predictor of future cardiovascular events. This research was presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting on May 31, 2010 in San Francisco.

The study showed that men with ED have higher CACS scores, independent of other coronary risk factors. In fact, men with ED are 50% more likely to have high CACS scores compared to those without ED. The study evaluated 1,119 consecutively enrolled men, 31% of which experienced ED, as part of the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program.

"This study highlights that ED is the canary in the coal mine for underlying cardiovascular disease and, therefore, men with ED need to be evaluated for overall cardiovascular risk and guidelines are needed to define which diagnostic tests can best assess this risk," said Dr. Bar-Chama, Director of the Center for Male Reproductive Health at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York.

The study, titled "Erectile Dysfunction is an Independent Risk Factor for the Presence of High Risk Coronary Artery Calcification", demonstrated this increased risk of calcification of coronary arteries, even when taking other co-morbidities and risk factors into consideration. In fact, the increased risk of coronary artery calcification for men with ED is similar to the increased risk for men with a history of hypertension or smokers. The mean age of the men in the study was 50.5 years of age.

"Identifying that ED may be an early indication of risk for a future major coronary event is but the first step in creating effective testing and early intervention, but may help us positively impact future health," added Dr. Bar-Chama. "Certainly these findings indicate early and more thorough evaluation for ED is appropriate and it may be wise to seek the care of a urologist when first noticing the symptoms of ED."

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