Sexual Function Is an Indicator of Central Arterial Stiffness and Arterial Stiffness Gradient in Japanese Adult Men

Atherosclerosis impacts all vascular beds, with the penile artery particularly susceptible due to its small diameter compared to larger central arteries. Kumagai et al. investigated whether erectile function could serve as a predictive marker for arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in men. They discovered a significant negative correlation between PWV and erectile dysfunction, suggesting that deteriorating erectile function is associated with increased central arterial stiffening and organ damage. This underscores the importance of assessing vascular health in males with erectile dysfunction to aid in earlier detection and treatment, thereby reducing cardiovascular disease risk.