Indeed, the Italian study suggests that diabetic men with ED can cut some of their heart risks by using a statin. Gazzaruso's team found that among patients with ED, those who were on a statin had a one-third lower chance of suffering a heart attack or other complication during the study.
There was also evidence that men taking a class of ED drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors, which includes Viagra, had lower heart risks. According to the researchers, this may reflect the fact that the drugs improve the function of the inner lining of artery walls.
The bottom line, according to Tong, is that men with diabetes and ED should have all of their modifiable heart risk factors "identified early and treated aggressively."
SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 27, 2008.
