More than half of all men between 40 and 70 years suffers from erectile dysfunction.

-erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and/or maintain one erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse

-prevalence estimated by the year 2025 is to affect 300 million men

– in the patients with coronary arterial erectile dysfunction prevalence ranges from 47-75%. Erectile dysfunction is more severe the more severe is the involvement of the coronary arterial tree

-erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease share risk factors and mechanisms of production (vascular dysfunction)

– there is scientific evidence that erectile dysfunction may precede the onset of coronary symptoms in 5 years, which could be used as ‘ therapeutic window ’

-the final step of treatment is represented by the prosthesis of penis

Málaga, 2011-February one of every two males between 40 and 70 years suffers from erectile dysfunctionincluding all grades that this failure encompasses (mild, moderate and severe) and increasing its prevalence with age. This problem, which is defined as the inability to achieve and/or maintain one erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse, is common in men from around the world. In fact, the prevalence estimate for the year 2025 is to affect 300 million men.

Dr. Antonio Quiñonero, urologist of the unity of cardiac rehabilitation of Hospital Universitario Virgen of the victory of Malaga, spoke on erectile dysfunction in the framework of the theoretical and practical course 10th SORECAR (society Spanish of rehabilitation Cardio-respiratory) – branch of the SERMEF (Spanish society of rehabilitation and physical medicine) – Actualizaciis in cardiac rehabilitation, which took place on 27 and January 28 in the Hospital of Virgen de la Victoria, in Málaga.

In the patients with coronary arterial erectile dysfunction prevalence ranges between 47-75%. Erectile dysfunction is more severe the more severe is the involvement of the coronary arterial tree ”, the expert explained. In this sense ”, has been added, erectile dysfunction and coronary artery disease share risk factors and mechanisms of production, such as Endothelial dysfunction ”, explains the lecturer.

In addition, and perhaps most important is the growing scientific evidence that erectile dysfunction may precede the onset of coronary symptoms even in five years, which could be used as ‘ therapeutic window ’ ”.

Two types of patients

On the other hand, and patients, Dr. Quiñonero has pointed out that clinically we can find two different frames. On the one hand they are patients with erectile dysfunction under 60 years of age and without coronary symptoms who have a high risk of coronary heart disease in the next 5-10 years. These patients should be evaluated medically and stratified according to coronary risk medically to act on associated diseases (hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome) and change the lifestyle (sedentary lifestyle, tobacco) ”.

On the other hand, are patients who have already had a coronary table (myocardial infarction, bypass coronary etc.). These patients should be integrated systematically into programs of cardiac rehabilitation (cardiac rehabilitation units) after his recovery from the acute process. The patient after being discharged is unknown as a deal with his new situation from many points of view: level exercise that can perform, nutrition, control of risk factors, stress-management techniques, the sexual problems (erectile dysfunction) and psychological repercussions. In these programs patients are instructed in all these areas, it is vitally important to optimize their clinical progression and improve their quality of life psycho-social, labour and sexual.

With regard to the processing, according to the expert, the erectile dysfunction currently has treatment, which starts in first-line oral drug (inhibitors of Phosphodiesterase-5) in those patients who are not contraindicated. In the case where patients may not take these drugs, can be treated in second-line drugs vasoactive injected directly into the penis. The final step of treatment is represented by the prosthesis of penis ”.