Prevalance and risk factors of erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetic men: A hospital based study

Abstract

Aim: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a commonly reported complication of diabetes and an important cause of decreased quality of life among diabetic men. ED is an important but not well investigated problem of diabetic men in our country. In this context, we planned a cross-sectional study in order to analyze the prevalence and risk factors for ED in men with type 2 diabetes. Research design and methods: A total of 304 consecutive Turkish type 2 diabetic men who were attended to the outpatient clinic, were enrolled in the study. Age, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes duration, HbAicand complications were recorded. Prevalence of ED was determined by using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) for determining ED and questions were asked to all subjects by the same specialist medical doctor. The patients who stated that their ability to have and maintain an erection suf¬ficient for intercourse was poor or very poor in the past two years were considered to have ED. Results: Of the 304 type 2 diabetic men interviewed, 190 (62.5 %) had ED. Age, diabetes duration, metabolic control and complications were associated with an increased risk of ED. Conclusions: In conclusion, ED is an extremely common complication in type 2 diabetic Turkish men. Furthermore, the high prevalence of ED points to the importance of looking for ED during routine examinations in type 2 diabetic men.