Men’s Health

Refine Sexual Health Intervention Strategies

with Digital Vascular Biomarkers

Fast Fact

1 in 3

Men experience erectile dysfunction, the most common sexual dysfunction in men, and the prevalence increases with age.1

Impact of Arterial Stiffness on Sexual Wellbeing

  • Vlachopoulos C, Ioakeimidis N, Miner M, et al.

    Testosterone defiency is independently associated with aortic stiffness over a broad range of individuals without manifest cardiovascular/atherosclerotic disease.

    Vlachopoulos C, Ioakeimidis N, Miner M, et al.
    Atherosclerosis
  • Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, et al.

    The leading cause of erectile dysfunction is arterial dysfunction, with cardiovascular disease as the most common comorbidity.

    Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, et al.
    Sexual Medicine
  • Angoff R, Mosarla RC, Tsao CW.

    Men with acquired hypogonadism have higher pulse wave velocity (PWV) compared to normal men, and treatment with testosterone therapy helps to lower PWV, supporting a possible role for testosterone in lowering arterial stiffness

    Angoff R, Mosarla RC, Tsao CW.
    Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

Arterial Stiffness and Men's Health

As arteries lose their elasticity due to aging and cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension and diabetes, they become less responsive to changes in blood pressure, hindering the ability to achieve and sustain arousal and erections in men. Conditions like atherosclerosis can exacerbate this effect by narrowing or blocking arteries. Conversely, sexual activity can positively affect vascular health, creating a complex interplay between arterial stiffness and sexual function.

Research Highlights

Vascular Insights for Sexual Wellness

Vascular biomarkers offer valuable insights into cardiovascular health that directly impacts sexual function. These biomarkers serve as indicators of endothelial health and arterial compliance, crucial factors in maintaining adequate blood flow for sexual arousal and function. Incorporating vascular biomarkers into clinical assessments offers a proactive approach to addressing vascular-related sexual health concerns and optimizing sexual function.

Utility of Vascular Biomarkers in Sexual Health

  • Corrigan FE 3rd, Al Mheid I, Eapen DJ, et al.

    In men with few co-morbidities, lower serum testosterone level is associated with microvascular dysfunction and increased pulse wave reflections, mechanisms by which lower testosterone levels may confer increased cardiovascular risk.

    Corrigan FE 3rd, Al Mheid I, Eapen DJ, et al.
    International Journal of Cardiology
  • Corrigan FE 3rd, Al Mheid I, Eapen DJ, et al.

    Testosterone is negatively correlated with [augmentation index], indicating increasing pulse wave reflections with lower testosterone levels

    Corrigan FE 3rd, Al Mheid I, Eapen DJ, et al.
    International Journal of Cardiology
  • Kakkavas A, Tsioufis C, Tsiachris D, et al.

    Older patients with ED compared with their younger counterparts without ED, demonstrated increased [pulse pressure], higher prevalence of nondipping, and more impaired diastolic function.

    Kakkavas A, Tsioufis C, Tsiachris D, et al.
    Journal of Clinical Hypertension

Vascular Biomarkers Explained

Vascular biomarkers are revolutionizing not only cardiovascular health management but also clinical research and personal wellness strategies.

These critical indicators offer a comprehensive evaluation of the cardiovascular system's health across a broad spectrum, from clinical trials to individual health monitoring. By assessing key markers such as endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and coronary flow reserve, they enable a nuanced understanding of cardiovascular risks and conditions.

This valuable insight facilitates early intervention, personalized health optimization, and the development of targeted treatments in clinical settings, significantly advancing patient care and wellness initiatives.

Brachial Blood Pressure

What it Is
Brachial blood pressure measures the pressure of blood at the brachial artery using a blood pressure cuff.

Why it Matters
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US.

Central Blood Pressure

What it Is
Calculated using pulse wave analysis and a traditional brachial cuff, central blood pressure measures pressure at the root of the aorta.

Why it Matters
Central blood pressure reflects key vascular issues such as arterial stiffness, which makes it a more accurate predictor of subclinical cardiovascular disease than traditional brachial blood pressure alone.

Subendocardial Viability Ratio

What it Is
Subendocardial viability ratio measures the supply of blood that flows to your inner heart muscle in relation to demand.

Why it Matters
SEVR offers insight into how well a person’s heart can handle the stress of exercise.

Augmentation Pressure

What it Is
Augmentation pressure refers to the increase in central aortic pressure caused pressure wave reflection.

Why it Matters
A marker of arterial stiffness, elevated augmentation pressure is associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Augmentation Index

What it Is
An indirect measure of arterial stiffness that increases with age, augmentation index reflects the burden stiff arteries place on the heart.

Why it Matters
Chronic stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system can lead to heart failure and hypertrophy (enlarged heart).

Central Pulse Pressure

What it Is
The height of pressure at the heart, central pulse pressure shows the pressure to which key organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys are exposed.

Why it Matters
Central pulse pressure helps identify the risk of end organ damage to key organs like the brain, kidney and heart.

Medical Grade Heart Rate
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Pulse Wave Velocity

What it Is
Pulse wave velocity measures arterial stiffness.

Why it Matters
Increases in arterial stiffness are generally based on the loss of elasticity in the aorta artery walls over time and increases the strain on the heart from heightened pressures. Increased aortic stiffness using PWV is a validated predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

 
cbpCentral Blood Pressure

What it Is
Calculated using pulse wave analysis and a traditional brachial cuff, central blood pressure measures pressure at the root of the aorta.

Why it Matters
Central blood pressure reflects key vascular issues such as arterial stiffness, which makes it a more accurate predictor of subclinical cardiovascular disease than traditional brachial blood pressure alone.

 
bbpBrachial Blood Pressure

What it Is
Brachial blood pressure measures the pressure of blood at the brachial artery using a blood pressure cuff.

Why it Matters
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, both of which are leading causes of death in the US.

 
sevrSubendocardial Viability Ratio

What it Is
Subendocardial viability ratio measures the supply of blood that flows to your inner heart muscle in relation to demand.

Why it Matters SEVR offers insight into how well a person’s heart can handle the stress of exercise.

 
medical grade heart rateMedical Grade Heart Measurement

What it Is
A beat-to-beat heart rate measurement on par with standard ECG-based methods.

Why it Matters
A consistently high resting heart rate may be a sign of coronary heart disease and is associated with a greater risk of stroke.

 
cppCentral Pulse Pressure

What it Is
The height of pressure at the heart, central pulse pressure shows the pressure to which key organs like the heart, brain, and kidneys are exposed.

Why it Matters
Central pulse pressure helps identify the risk of end organ damage to key organs like the brain, kidney and heart.

 
cppPulse Wave Velocity

What it Is
Pulse wave velocity measures arterial stiffness.

Why it Matters
Increases in arterial stiffness are generally based on the loss of elasticity in the aorta artery walls over time and increases the strain on the heart from heightened pressures. Increased aortic stiffness using PWV is a validated predictor of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality.

 
augmentation pressureAugmentation Pressure

What it Is
Augmentation pressure refers to the increase in central aortic pressure caused pressure wave reflection.

Why it Matters
A marker of arterial stiffness, elevated augmentation pressure is associated with cardiovascular risk factors as well as increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

 
augmentation indexAugmentation Index

What it Is
An indirect measure of arterial stiffness that increases with age, augmentation index reflects the burden stiff arteries place on the heart.

Why it Matters
Chronic stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system can lead to heart failure and hypertrophy (enlarged heart).

Hover over each biomarker above to learn more

Incorporate Vascular Biomarkers in the Management of Men's Health

Download Reimbursement Guide

In-Clinic

  • Assess cardiovascular risk factors that may impact sexual function, such as reduced blood flow due to arterial stiffness or endothelial dysfunction.
  • Develop personalized interventions to address identified vascular issues and optimize sexual health.
  • Reimbursable with CPT 93050.

At Home

  • Empower patients to actively manage their health by tracking changes in their biomarkers.
  • Integration with telemedicine to maintains an ongoing patient-provider interaction and enhances personalized care.
  • Reimbursable with CPT 9945x & 99091.

SphygmoCor® XCEL

Capture comprehensive central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness insights at point-of-care and in clinical trials.

Explore XCEL

CONNEQT Pulse

Monitor arterial health insights with ease at home and on-the-go.

Explore Pulse

Oscar 2

Gold standard in 24-hour central hemodynamics and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Explore Oscar 2
1 Gerbild H, Larsen CM, Graugaard C, Areskoug Josefsson K. Physical Activity to Improve Erectile Function: A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies. Sex Med. 2018;6(2):75-89. doi:10.1016/j.esxm.2018.02.001

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