Vascular risk factors and erectile dysfunction in a cohort of healthy men.

To determine the impact of vascular risk factors in the genesis of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a cohort of healthy men. Participants of a health-screening project were carefully selected as men without known vascular disease. Erectile dysfunction was quantified via the IIEF5-questionnaire. All men underwent a detailed health examination including determination of blood pressure, blood lipid profile and fasting serum glucose. In total 1519 men (42.9+/-7.9 years) were analysed. Age (P < 0.01), elevated levels of total cholesterol (P = 0.04) and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) (P = 0.02) were associated with moderately to severely impaired erectile function (IIEF5: <12). Men with total cholesterol >240 mg/dl had a 2.7 (1.5-4.9)-fold increased risk for moderate to severe ED, the respective figure for LDL >160 mg/dl was 2.6 (1.4-4.9). In this well characterized, healthy population, elevated serum lipids are the most important risk factors for the development of ED.