Korean J Urol.  2007 Dec;48(12):1258-1276. 10.4111/kju.2007.48.12.1258.

Prevalence and Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction in Aging Men: Hallym Aging Study(HAS)

• Yang DH
• Jeong JY
• Jang SN
• Lee SK
• Choi YJ
• Kim DH

• KMID: 1990150
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2007.48.12.1258

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a population-based sample of Korean men aged 45 or over, and to study its correlation with the socio-demographic, medical and lifestyle factors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
385 men in Chunchon City were evaluated by clinical measures and questionnaires. All the participants were evaluated for erectile dysfunction. In conjunction with this evaluation, all the men were asked to complete the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS), and they underwent health examinations that included blood pressure, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio, and the laboratory studies included the fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol levels. The subjects' medical history and health behaviors were investigated.
RESULTS
Out of the 385 men who visited our hospital, 285 completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of moderate or severe ED increased from 5.3% in men aged 45 to 54 years to 87.3% in men aged 75 or over. The standardized prevalence of ED was 41.5%. The IPSS were strongly correlated with ED(age adjusted partial R=??0.246, p<0.001). An increasing risk of ED was observed among those subjects with total cholesterol higher than 240mg/dl (adjusted odds ratio[aOR]=1.8), hypertension(aOR=2.2) and the ex-smokers(aOR=5.2). Education and family income were not correlated with ED(p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this community-based survey confirmed the strong correlation between advancing age and the prevalence of ED. Lower urinary tract symptoms are the major factors affecting erectile function. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and ex-smokers are significant risk factors for ED.

Keyword

Erectile dysfunction; Epidemiology; Risk factors

MeSH Terms

Aging*
Blood Glucose
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol
Education
Epidemiology
Erectile Dysfunction*
Fasting
Gangwon-do
Health Behavior
Humans
Hypertension
Life Style
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
Male
Prevalence*
Prostate
Questionnaires
Risk Factors*
Waist-Hip Ratio
Blood Glucose
Cholesterol

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction by age groups. The erectile dysfunction criteria were severe: International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score≤10, moderate: 11-15, mild: 16-20 and normal: ≥21. The number in the box means the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, including severe, moderate and mild.

• 

  Fig. 2. Prevalence of low urinary tract symptom. The low urinary tract symptoms' criteria were severe: IPSS≥20 and moderate: 8-19, IPSS: International Prostate Symptom Score.

• 

  Fig. 3. International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score and total cholesterol. Age adjusted partial Pearson's correlation coefficient: R= ?0.18 (p=0.044).

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