Men with erectile dysfunction should be examined for testosterone deficiency and the metabolic syndrome. A new study shows these conditions commonly occur together. Moreover, Specialists will present the results at The Endocrine Society’s 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

Erectile Dysfunction Sheds Light on Men’s Overall Health, Study Finds

“Erectile dysfunction is a portal into men’s health,” said the study’s senior author, Aksam Yassin. He is a MD and PhD of the Clinic for Urology and Andrology of the Segeberger Clinics in Norderstedt, Germany. Consequently, it is becoming clear that we can interwine obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and erectile difficulties. The testosterone deficiency is a common denominator.

Investigating the Link between Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone Deficiency

The research Yassin performed with scientists from The Netherlands, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates, aimed to determine in men with erectile dysfunction (ED) the prevalence of hypogonadism. It is the scientific term for testosterone deficiency. Therefore, the study sought to establish a connection between erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency.

Study Shows Testosterone Deficiency in 18.3% of Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Over a two-year period, the investigators studied 771 patients who sought treatment for ED, with an average age of 56. Consequently, the patients underwent a comprehensive screening for low testosterone and indicators of the metabolic syndrome. They are a cluster of risk factors that increase the chances of developing heart and vascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Thus, the study aimed to uncover testosterone deficiency in men with erectile dysfunction.

Among the 771 men, 18.3 percent of the men (141 men) had testosterone deficiency. Authors could not previously detect it though. In comparison, the prevalence of hypogonadism in the general population of men age 45 and older is about 12 percent, Yassin said. Therefore, the study highlights the significant prevalence of undetected testosterone deficiency in men with erectile dysfunction.

High Incidence of Diabetes, Hypertension, and Dyslipidemia in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Of all the men in the study, 270 (35 percent) had type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to study data, diabetes was a new diagnosis for eight of the men. In addition, they found high blood pressure in 239 men (31 percent). Twelve (12) of these men had been unaware of it. Furthermore, among the 162 men (21 percent) who had dyslipidemia–abnormal cholesterol or triglycerides–nine of them had not previously been diagnosed. Moreover, 108 men, or 14 percent, had varying degrees of coronary heart disease. Five of them receiving this diagnosis for the first time, Yassin said. Hence, the study highlights the high incidence of diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia in men with erectile dysfunction.

Assessing Testosterone Deficiency and Metabolic Syndrome in Men with Erectile Dysfunction

Given the findings, it is crucial to assess testosterone deficiency and any underlying signs of the metabolic syndrome in men with ED–especially older men. As a result, they should receive evaluation not only for ED but also for testosterone deficiency and the potential presence of the metabolic syndrome, as the author advised.

Article Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-06/tes-ltm061408.php