The interconnection between erectile dysfunction and acute cardiovascular complications has been studied by the example of 1248 men aged 50-70 not suffering of any cardiovascular pathology.

The heaviness of erectile dysfunction at the beginning of the studies was determined on the basis of the answers to the question: "What is the rigidity of your erection?" The patients have been examined for 6.3 years and during this time under observation were such acute cardiovascular conditions as acute myocardial infarction, acute stroke and sudden cardiovascular death. Among 1248 men 258 (22.8%) had diminished erection, and erection of 108 (8.7%) patients was diminished very much.

During the whole observation period 58 cardiovascular complications was registered. When the patients were classified regarding the risks (age, smoking, cholesterol) of falling ill with cardiovascular diseases it turned out that the risk factor of acute cardiovascular state at diminished rigidity was 1.6, and at more diminished rigidity was 2.6. Thus it is possible to foresee possible myocardial infarction, acute stroke and sudden cardiovascular death on the basis of an answer to only one question about erection rigidity, independently of common risk factors.