Erectile dysfunction is associated with low total serum testosterone levels and impaired flow-mediated vasodilation in intermediate risk men according to the framingham risk score

Background: The role erectile dysfunction (ED) coupled with low testosterone levels as early markers ofatherosclerosis is not well understood. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between serum testosteronelevels with both ED and brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), in a primary preventionsample of men. Methods: We enrolled 802 asymptomatic, intermediate CV risk patients,according to the Framingham Risk Score, aged 40e80 years, who underwent the ultrasound examinationof FMD, the evaluation of ED and the assessment of total serum testosterone levels. Results: Testosteronelevels correlated both with FMD (r ¼ 0.85; p < 0.0001) and IIEF-5 score (rs ¼ 0.65; p < 0.0001).Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that lower serum testosterone levels were stronglyassociated (p < 0.001) with severe (OR 0.78; 95% CI: 0.62e0.86), and moderate ED (OR 0.85; 95% CI: 0.72e0.97), while impaired FMD percentages were strongly associated (p < 0.001) with severe (OR 0.68; 95%CI: 0.59e0.79), moderate (OR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63e0.83) and mild to moderate ED (OR 0.8; 95% CI: 0.69e0.94). Mild ED resulted statistically associated with lower FMD (OR 0.94; 95% CI: 0.82 e 1.07; p ¼ 0.03)but not with serum testosterone levels. These relations were not substantially affected by adjustmentsfor further potential confounders including smoking status, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and bodymass index. Conclusions: lower total serum testosterone levels are associated with impaired FMD andED in this sample of intermediate CV risk men according to the Framingham Risk Score