Understanding Erectile Dysfunction in Hypertensive Patients: The Need for Good Patient Management.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as a man's consistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain penile erection enough for successful vaginal intercourse. ED affects a large part of the population, increasing its incidence with age and comorbidities. It is estimated by the year 2025, 322 million men will suffer from ED. Incidence of ED has been related not only to chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, hyperlipidemia, psychiatric diseases or urinary tract diseases, but also to hypertension and especially to antihypertensive treatments. This review summarizes current knowledge about the management of ED in hypertensive men and its role as cardiovascular disease predictor.