Prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction: results of the Brazilian study of sexual behavior.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and explore its potential sociodemographic, medical, and lifestyle correlates.


METHODS
While attending the "Health Awareness Fair" in nine major cities in Brazil, 1286 men completed a questionnaire regarding ED, demographic data, and medical conditions. ED was assessed by a single global self-rating question, in which subjects were asked to describe themselves as able to achieve and maintain an erection good enough for sexual intercourse always, usually, sometimes, or never, and the responses were used to classify the subjects as having no, minimal, moderate, or complete ED, respectively. Age-adjusted bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to calculate the prevalence odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the potential covariates.


RESULTS
Overall, 46.2% of men reported some degree of ED (minimal 31.5%, moderate 12.1%, complete 2.6%). The prevalence of complete ED increased 10 times from 1% to 11% between subjects younger than 40 and older than 70 years; moderate ED rose from 8% to 27%, and minimal ED remained constant at approximately 31%. In bivariate age-adjusted analyses, low educational attainment, black race/ethnicity, homo/bisexuality, and a history of diabetes, hypertension, or depression were significantly (P <0.05) associated with an increased prevalence of ED. In the multivariate logistic regression model, these variables remained significantly associated with ED.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study show that ED is a major health problem in Brazil and both the severity and prevalence increase with age. The medical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle variables associated with ED may alert physicians to patients who are at risk of ED, as well as offer clues to the etiology of ED.
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Núcleo de Epidemiologia e Estatística, Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Salvador, Brazil.
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D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*