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World J Cardiol. Sep 26, 2014; 6(9): 908-915
Published online Sep 26, 2014. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v6.i9.908
Management of erectile dysfunction in hypertension: Tips and tricks
Margus Viigimaa, Charalambos Vlachopoulos, Antonios Lazaridis, Michael Doumas
Margus Viigimaa, Tallinn University of Technology, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Tallinn 13419, Estonia
Margus Viigimaa, North Estonia Medical Centre, Tallinn 13419, Estonia
Charalambos Vlachopoulos, 1st Department of Cardiology, Kapodestrian University, Athens 11527, Greece
Antonios Lazaridis, Michael Doumas, 2nd Propedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki 54642, Greece
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the preparation of the manuscript.
Supported by The European Union through the European Regional Development Fund
Correspondence to: Margus Viigimaa, Professor, North Estonia Medical Centre, Sütiste St. 19, Tallinn 13419, Estonia. margus.viigimaa@regionaalhaigla.ee
Telephone: +372-61-71415 Fax: +372-61-71415
Received: March 11, 2014
Revised: June 24, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: September 26, 2014
Processing time: 200 Days and 12.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: The prevalence of erectile dysfunction is approximately 2-fold higher in hypertensive patients compared to normotensive individuals. However, erectile dysfunction remains under-reported, under-recognized, and under-treated in hypertensive patients. Lifestyle modification should be the mainstay of treating erectile dysfunction in patients with untreated hypertension. Switching antihypertensive therapy should be considered in treated hypertensive patients, unless administered drugs are absolutely indicated for the individual patient. Otherwise, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors should be used, since they are both effective and safe in hypertensive patients. Finally, erectile dysfunction offers the opportunity to recognize asymptomatic cardiovascular disease with obvious benefits for cardiovascular event prevention.