New research released by the Sax Institute shows that erectile dysfunction could signal ‘silent’ heart disease and may indicate an increased risk of dying from any cause.

The study, which aimed to investigate the link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease, found that men with erectile problems have a significantly higher risk of hospital admission for heart disease. They are also at greater risk of premature death from any cause.

The research, from the Sax Institute’s 45 and Up Study and published in international journal PLOS

Medicine today, is the first to show a direct link between how severe a man’s erection problem is and his risk of dying early or being treated in hospital for heart disease.

“The risks of future heart disease and premature death increased steadily with severity of erectile dysfunction, both in men with and without a history of cardiovascular disease,” lead author and 45 and Up Study Scientific Director Professor Emily Banks said.

“Rather than causing heart disease, erectile dysfunction is more likely to be a symptom or signal of underlying ‘silent’ heart disease and could in future become a useful marker to help doctors predict the risk of a cardiovascular problem. This is a sensitive topic but men shouldn’t suffer in silence; there are many effective treatments, both for erectile dysfunction and for cardiovascular disease.