The presence of erectile dysfunction was associated with lower calculated exercise capacity (P<0.001) and reduced chronotropic index (P<0.01) compared to men without erectile dysfunction.
Observational (n=230)
Are chronotropic incompetence and abnormal heart rate recovery during exercise stress testing associated with the presence and severity of erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is associated with impaired exercise capacity, chronotropic incompetence, and abnormal heart rate recovery, suggesting a pathophysiological link to systemic endothelial dysfunction and increased cardiovascular risk.
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Exercise stress testing (EST) is crucial to determine cardiovascular (CV) risk in men with erectile dysfunction (ED). Low exercise workload, a slower rate of recovery following exercise, and an impaired capacity to increase heart rate (HR) during exercise testing (chronotropic incompetence) are independent predictors of adverse CV outcomes. Aim of this study was to investigate the association between ED and EST parameters. METHODS: A total of 180 ED patients and 50 men without ED underwent maximal EST. Exercise parameters including exercise capacity (metabolic equivalents, METS), peak exercise time, HR at six METS, peak exercise, HR recovery (HRR) at 1 and 2 minutes and chronotropic index (CI) were evaluated in all individuals. Endothelial function was evaluated with flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery. RESULTS: ED patients had lower peak exercise time and thus lower calculated exercise capacity (P < 0.001) and reduced CI (P < 0.01) compared to men without ED. There was a significant association of ED severity with duration of exercise, peak workload, HRR 2 minutes after exercise, and CI (all P < 0.05). There also was a positive relation of HRR and CI with FMD (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows interrelationships between exercise capacity, HRR, CI, and ED. Abnormal HRR and CI are associated with systemic endothelial dysfunction. These findings imply pathophysiological links and may have important implications for the estimation of cardiovascular risk in ED patients.
Ioakeimidis et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Erectile dysfunction (n=230). Erectile dysfunction vs. Men without erectile dysfunction was evaluated on Exercise capacity and chronotropic index (p=<0.001). The presence of erectile dysfunction was associated with lower calculated exercise capacity (P<0.001) and reduced chronotropic index (P<0.01) compared to men without erectile dysfunction.