Evidence of erectile dysfunction as a predictor of cardiovascular disease: integrative review

The Erectile dysfunction is the main male sexual dysfunction and may be an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease because by sharing risk factors, etiology and clinical evolution, based on endothelial dysfunction. This is an integrative review with the objective of verifying the available evidence in the literature on erectile dysfunction as a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Data collection was carried out from October to November 2017. Articles published in full between January 2012 and September 2017 were included. A sample of 11 (eleven) articles was obtained. The correlation of coronary disease with erectile dysfunction has a profound association with the cellular and vascular changes of the arterial vessels. The subclinical relationship is confirmed by the associated symptoms of mild degrees of erectile dysfunction that may show the cardiovascular disease involved. The deficiency of endothelial vasodilation influences the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction, considering an additional risk for coronary disease in men without clinical presentation or constituting an aggravation in those with established heart disease. Erectile dysfunction is an important marker for the finding of coronary disease and is considered a manifestation that may precede vascular disease and/or high-risk cardiovascular events.