Severity of erectile dysfunction could predict left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in patients without overt cardiac complaint.

INTRODUCTION: It has been repeatedly demonstrated that presence of erectile dysfunction (ED) may predate the occurrence of overt event of coronary artery disease. However, the association between severity of ED and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was rarely reported. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the association between severity of ED and LVDD in patients without overt cardiac complaint. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to assess erectile function. Diastolic Doppler parameters measurements and tissue Doppler imaging were used to assess left ventricular diastolic function. METHODS: A total of 230 male ED patients without overt cardiac complaint were enrolled in this study. Erectile function was assessed using the IIEF. Patients were also screened for socio demographic data and medical comorbidities that included age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. All patients were referred to cardiologist for cardiac assessment. Left ventricular diastolic function that included diastolic Doppler parameters measurements and tissue Doppler imaging were also assessed. RESULTS: Mean age±standard deviation was 57.5±5.6 (range of 42-81). There were significant associations between the following risk factors: age, obesity, smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and increased severity of ED (P<0.05 for each). Of the patients, 77.4%, 74.8%, 80%, and 66.1% had abnormal transmitral E/A (E/A) ratio, deceleration time (DT), isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT), mitral E velocity/tissue Doppler imaging E velocity (E/Em) ratio, respectively. Only the means of IVRT and (E/Em) ratio had significant associations with increased severity of ED (P<0.001 for each). There were significant associations between increased severity of ED and the following categorical echo parameters: grades 1 and 2 of E/A ratio, DT, IVRT, and grades 1, 2, and 3 of (E/Em) ratio (P<0.05 for each). CONCLUSIONS: The current study clearly demonstrated that LVDD is prevalent among patients with ED-associated medical comorbidities without overt cardiac complaint. There were significant associations between increased severity of ED and presence of LVDD in those patients.

The first survey of the Saudi Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry Program: Main results and long-term outcomes (STARS-1 Program).

BACKGROUND: Prior acute coronary syndrome (ACS) registries in Saudi Arabia might not have accurately described the true demographics and cardiac care of patients with ACS. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of a representative sample of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a 1-month snap-shot, prospective, multi-center registry study in 50 hospitals from various health care sectors in Saudi Arabia. We followed patients for 1 month and 1 year after hospital discharge. Patients with AMI included those with or without ST-segment elevation (STEMI or NSTEMI, respectively). This program survey will be repeated every 5 years. RESULTS: Between May 2015 and January 2017, we enrolled 2233 patients with ACS (mean age was 56 [standard deviation = 13] years; 55.6% were Saudi citizens, 85.7% were men, and 65.9% had STEMI). Coronary artery disease risk factors were high; 52.7% had diabetes mellitus and 51.2% had hypertension. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was utilized in only 5.2% of cases. Revascularization for patients with STEMI included thrombolytic therapy (29%), primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); (42.5%), neither (29%), or a pharmaco-invasive approach (3%). Non-Saudis with STEMI were less likely to undergo primary PCI compared to Saudis (35.8% vs. 48.7%; respectively, p <0.001), and women were less likely than men to achieve a door-to-balloon time of <90 min (42% vs. 65%; respectively, p = 0.003). Around half of the patients with NSTEMI did not undergo a coronary angiogram. All-cause mortality rates were 4%, 5.8%, and 8.1%, in-hospital, at 1 month, and at 1 year, respectively. These rates were significantly higher in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need for primary prevention programs, improving the EMS infrastructure and utilization, and establishing organized ACS network programs. AMI care needs further improvement, particularly for women and non-Saudis.

Enhanced external counterpulsation in patients with coronary artery disease-associated erectile dysfunction. Part II: impact of disease duration and treatment courses.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive outpatient treatment used for patients with intractable angina refractory to aggressive surgical and medical treatment. Recent results have demonstrated a positive impact of EECP on patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD)-associated erectile dysfunction (ED). AIM: To assess the effect of IHD duration and number of EECP courses on efficacy and satisfaction rate of EECP on patients with IHD-associated ED. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared pre- and post-EECP responses to erectile function (EF) domain, Q3 and Q4 of the International Index of Erectile Function score in patients who received one or two courses of EECP and those who had <5- or >or=5-years duration of IHD. METHODS: As mentioned in part I a total of 44 male patients with intractable angina caused by coronary insufficiency were enrolled in this study. Treatment course of EECP consists of 35 1-hour sessions over 7 weeks. Another 35 1-hour sessions over another 7 weeks were offered to patients who received one course and required a second course because of no or minimal improvement from class IV to class III angina after the first course. RESULTS: Patients who received only one course (N = 34) had significantly higher EF domain, Q3 and Q4, in pre- and post-EECP results than patients who received two courses (N = 10) after they completed the first course. Patients who had <5-years duration of IHD had significantly higher pre- and post EECP than patients who had >or=5 years regarding EF domain, Q3 and Q4. Considering the global efficacy question, overall satisfaction, and angina, there were significant improvements of post EECP in patients with <5 years than in patients with >or=5-years duration of IHD. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and satisfaction rate of EECP in patients with IHD-associated ED were negatively influenced by longer duration of IHD and requirement of a second course of EECP.

Screening for ischemic heart disease in patients with erectile dysfunction: role of penile Doppler ultrasonography.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the role of measuring cavernosal artery blood flow as a screening tool for ischemic heart disease in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). METHODS: A total of 303 male patients with ED were enrolled in this study. Patients were interviewed for ED using the International Index of Erectile Function. The penile vasculature was assessed using color Doppler ultrasonography and the Digital Inflection Rigidometer. All patients were referred to a cardiologist for evaluation of ischemic heart disease (IHD). All patients underwent routine laboratory investigations, plus total testosterone and prolactin assessments. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent of the patients had organic causes of ED. Of the 303 patients, 31.4% had different degrees of IHD. A statistically significant association was found between the presence of IHD and arteriogenic causes of ED, a poor response to intracorporal injection, poor rigidity in the Digital Inflection Rigidometer, and low peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the cavernosal arteries (P <0.05 for each). No statistically significant association was found between the presence of IHD and increasing end-diastolic velocity values or decreasing resistive index in the cavernosal arteries (P >0.05 for each). A statistically significant association was found between a higher grade of IHD and a decreasing PSV value (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study established that a reduced PSV of the cavernous artery is associated with IHD. Determining the PSV could be a reliable screening tool for the detection of IHD in patients with ED.

Coronary artery risk factors in patients with erectile dysfunction.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the risk factors of coronary artery disease in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 417 male patients with ED were enrolled in this study. Patients were interviewed for ED using the International Index of Erectile Function. All patients were also screened for sociodemographic data and risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD), including age, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and psychological disorders. Patients underwent routine laboratory investigation plus testosterone and prolactin assessment. All patients were referred to a cardiologist for IHD evaluation. RESULTS: Mean age +/- SD was 59.1 +/- 10.3 years. Of the patients 27.3% were younger than 50 years, 37.2% were current or former smokers, and 27.6% had mild, 30% had moderate and 42.4% had severe ED. Of the patients 26.9% had different degrees of IHD, of whom 84.8% were older than 50 years. There was a significant association between age and IHD (p <0.05). There were significant associations between IHD, and the increased severity and progressive course of ED (each p <0.05). Furthermore, higher degrees of IHD were significantly associated with severe ED. Diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia and psychological disorders were present in 75.1%, 39.3%, 45.6% and 8.2% of the patients, respectively. Overall 92.1% of the patients with ED had 1 or more coronary artery risk factors. The presence of at least 1 risk factor is significantly associated with ED in patients with IHD (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Coronary artery risk factors are significantly associated with erectile dysfunction. A significant association between higher degrees of IHD and the increased severity of ED was detected.