The increase in social and emotional interactions that characterize the summer season may lead to increased difficulties in men's sexual lives, issues that many men still feel embarrassed about or tend to dismiss as mere minor 'failures'.

Millions of Italians suffer from erectile dysfunction

Among these problems is erectile dysfunction (ED), which affects about 3 million men in Italy, and its prevalence increases with age. Besides being a sexual disorder, erectile dysfunction can be a potential indicator of broader imbalances in an individual's overall health.

New Book

This is the core concept addressed in the multidisciplinary book by author Emmanuele A. Jannini, professor of endocrinology and sexual medicine at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, titled 'The Canary in the Coalmine: Erectile Dysfunction as the Best Biomarker of Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases.' The book was published under the auspices of the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (Siams) and with support from the company 'Viatris'.

This book, published by Springer Nature in the international series 'Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine' and available in open access, offers an innovative perspective on erectile dysfunction; it does not merely classify it as a sexual disorder but sees it as a potential early indicator of a wide range of non-communicable chronic diseases.

The Canary Reveals Toxic Elements

The description of erectile dysfunction as 'the canary in the coal mine' was no coincidence; just as these birds were once used in mines to detect invisible toxic gases early, erectile dysfunction can be an early sign of more serious, as-yet-undiagnosed health conditions.

Viatris, in a statement, indicates that this condition may be linked to multiple underlying factors and can represent a predictive indicator for various health problems, ranging from cardiovascular diseases to diabetes and metabolic disorders, as well as hormonal changes, endocrine disorders, and issues related to mental health. Jannini explains: 'Erectile dysfunction should not be interpreted as a purely physical problem, but as a multifactorial condition in which biological, psychological, relational, and social aspects interact.'

Sexual Dysfunction and Coronary Artery Disease

For example, in the field of cardiovascular diseases, erectile dysfunction may appear many years before the onset of symptoms of coronary artery disease; erectile problems precede heart problems by an average of more than 3 years in 2 out of 3 men. This time window is a valuable opportunity to identify men at risk early and intervene to address modifiable factors.

A study conducted by Iqvia in collaboration with Viatris on a sample of 1,000 men aged 18 to 70 confirms a link between erectile dysfunction and other health problems. The research indicates that men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have cardiovascular diseases (6% increase in history of cardiovascular disease), overweight or obesity (17% increase), and diabetes (7% increase), compared to men without erectile dysfunction.

* Tribune Media Services.