Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Austria--analysis of a health screening project.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men undergoing a health investigation.


METHODS
Men aged 30-69 yrs participating in a health screening project in the area of Vienna completed a 11-item questionnaire on ED which was extracted from the international index of erectile function (IIEF). In parallel, all men underwent a detailed health examination including physical assessment, evaluation of various life-style factors and a blood analysis with 14 parameters.


RESULTS
Within the total study population (n = 832; 45.3 +/- 9.8 yrs), 8.2% reported no sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks, 5.1% reported moderate/severe ED, 13.1% mild and 73.6% no ED. ED, defined as any problem in maintaining erection until the end of sexual intercourse, increased from 12.5% in those aged 30-39 yrs to 15.3% at 40-49 yrs, 27.4% at 50-59 yrs and 45.2% in men 60-69 yrs. In parallel, the percentage of men without sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks increased from 7.4% at 30-39 yrs to 8.8% at 50-59 yrs and 17.0% at 60-69 yrs. By far the strongest correlate for ED was age; other factors were cardiovascular diseases, physical activity and diabetes mellitus.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides the first estimate of the prevalence of ED in different life decades of men in Vienna, and identifies a number of risk factors for this highly prevalent disorder in ageing men.
Madersbacher
Stephan
S
Department of Urology and Andrology, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Urological Oncology, Donauspital, Vienna, Austria. stephan.madersbacher@wienkav.at
Temml
Christian
C
Racz
Ursula
U
Mock
Karl
K
Ponholzer
Anton
A
Maier
Ulrich
U
Haidinger
Gerald
G
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003075:Coitus; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D004493:Education; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires