Erectile Dysfunction - Marker for Heart Attack

New Data From the World Congress of Cardiology

BEIJING, June 19, 2010 - Seven out of 10 men admitted to hospital for a heart attack (acute ST
segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)) had erectile dysfunction
(ED) in the six months prior to their admission according to new data
presented today at the World Congress of Cardiology (WCC) Scientific Sessions
in Beijing, China.

A year-long study conducted in 2009 involving 111 sexually active men at
the University Malaya Medical Centre, admitted for STEMI, demonstrated that
75.7 per cent had experienced ED in the six months prior to being
hospitalized, and all patients with a prior history of ischemic heart disease
had ED (Fisher Exact Test, p=0.020). Moreover, 24.7 per cent of the 81
sexually inactive men that were not recruited to the study reported complete
ED for more than six months prior to screening.

ED and coronary artery disease (CAD) share many common risk factors and
are closely related. Atherosclerosis, the root cause of CAD and ED, is a
generalized inflammatory disorder that progresses at a similar rate
throughout the vasculature of the body. Therefore, it is thought that ED
should precede CAD since the penile arteries are considerably smaller than
the coronary arteries.

"This study demonstrates that we should consider patients with evidence
of ED to be of very high risk for development of future acute coronary
syndromes. Interestingly, the study also found that all patients with a prior
history of heart attack and ED presented with recurrent heart attacks.
Therefore, we should screen and treat such patients very aggressively," said
Dr. S V Ramesh, University of Malay Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"Moreover, men who are not sexually active should also be closely assessed as
a quarter of them have complete ED which warrants treatment and this may also
be a harbinger for CAD."

A total of 219 men were admitted for STEMI to the coronary care unit from
April 2008 to February 2009. Of these, 192 were screened and only 111 who
were sexually active within the last six months were recruited for the
assessment of ED using the IIEF-5 questionnaire. Other indices studied
include the cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, body measurements, blood
results and coronary angiographic findings.

About the World Congress of Cardiology

The World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions is the official
congress of the World Heart Federation and is held every two years. Through
the Congress the World Heart Federation offers an international stage for the
latest developments in science and public outreach in the field of
cardiovascular health. The World Congress of Cardiology places emphasis on
the complementary nature of science and public outreach and strives to spread
the message that through individual, community and patient-care
interventions, the growing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases can be
prevented. www.worldcardiocongress.org

About the World Heart Federation

The World Heart Federation is dedicated to leading the global fight
against heart disease and stroke with a focus on low- and middle-income
countries via a united community of more than 200 member organizations. With
its members, the World Heart Federation works to build global commitment to
addressing cardiovascular health at the policy level, generates and exchanges
ideas, shares best practice, advances scientific knowledge and promotes
knowledge transfer to tackle cardiovascular disease - the world's number one
killer. It is a growing membership organization that brings together the
strength of medical societies and heart foundations from more than 100
countries. Through our collective efforts we can help people all over the
world to lead longer and better heart-healthy lives. For more information,
please visit www.worldheart.org

WCC Press Office: +86-134-3696-0068; or wccpress at asia.cmpmedica.com