Are lower urinary tract symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction in aging males of Taiwan?
BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and erectile dysfunction (ED) in aging males of Taiwan.


METHODS
A free health screening for aging males (>or=45 years old) was conducted in Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital in August 2004. LUTS and ED were assessed by validated symptom scales: the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5). The subjects also completed a health and demographics questionnaire and underwent detailed physical examination, serum prostate-specific antigen level determination, and transrectal ultrasonography.


RESULTS
The final study population consisted of 141 patients with a mean age of 59.8 years. The severity of LUTS and ED increased with age. After controlling for comorbidities, age (p<0.001) and IPSS score (p<0.001) were significantly associated with the IIEF-5 score. Furthermore, men with moderate to high IPSS scores were more likely to have ED as compared with those with mild symptoms after age adjustment (age-adjusted odds ratio 3.27, p=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
ED and LUTS are highly prevalent in our study population, and this prevalence increases with age. ED is significantly associated with the severity of LUTS after controlling for age and comorbidities. These results highlight the clinical importance of evaluating LUTS in patients with ED and the need to consider sexual issues in the management of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Liu
Chia-Chu
CC
Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
Huang
Shu-Pin
SP
Li
Wei-Ming
WM
Wang
Chii-Jye
CJ
Wu
Wen-Jeng
WJ
Chou
Yii-Her
YH
Huang
Chun-Hsiung
CH
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011469:Prostatic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology