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Supplemental Figure
Supplementary Figure. Flowchart depicting creation of three analytic subsamples (Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Fasting Glucose) from NHANES 2001-2004 for undiagnosed hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes.
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The Article in Brief
Erectile Dysfunction and Undiagnosed Diabetes, Hypertension, and Hypercholesterolemia
Sean C. Skeldon , and colleagues
Background Previous research suggests that erectile dysfunction is an early indicator for cardiovascular disease. This study examines whether there is an association between erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or diabetes.
What This Study Found Erectile dysfunction doubles the odds of having undiagnosed diabetes. For an average man aged 40 to 59 years, the probability of undiagnosed diabetes jumps from one in 50 to one in 10 in men with erectile dysfunction. There is no association between erectile dysfunction and undiagnosed hypertension or hypercholesterolemia.
Implications
- The authors call for physicians to be vigilant in obtaining sexual histories in middle-aged men and screening those with erectile dysfunction for diabetes.