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An investigation of erectile dysfunction in Gwent, Wales
Author(s) -
Green J.S.A.,
Holden S.T.R.,
Ingram P.,
Bose P.,
St George D.P.,
Bowsher W.G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-4096.2001.01274.x
Subject(s) - medicine , erectile dysfunction , incidence (geometry) , testosterone (patch) , population , disease , gynecology , environmental health , physics , optics
Objective To quantify incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and the associated risk factors in men attending community clinics in a large population in Wales, UK. Subjects and methods Of 4060 men who were invited to attend 11 community clinics, primarily to check for prostate disease, 2025 (aged 55–70 years) attended. Of these, 2002 men answered a questionnaire about personal details, medical, family and sexual history, and detailed alcohol and smoking habits. All had their serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) analysed and those referred for investigation of prostatic disease underwent serum testosterone analysis. Results Complete ED was reported by 265 men (13.2%), and was closely related to age ( r = 0.19, P < 0.001) and medication ( r = 0.2, P < 0.001). ED occurred in 6.9% of men aged 55–60 years, 12.5% aged 61–65 and 22.2% of those aged 66–70. Patients taking diabetic medication had the highest relative risk for ED and 11.3% of men with ED were taking nitrates. The numbers of years of smoking had the third closest correlation with impotence ( r = 0.16, P < 0.001). A low serum testosterone level was a poor predictor of ED and increasing serum PSA levels did not influence the distribution of ED. Conclusion About 13% of these men aged 55–70 years had complete ED; if this value is extrapolated to the whole of the UK, this equates to almost half a million men being unable to achieve any erections. The estimate would be much greater if those with milder forms of ED are included.