Age-related changes in general and sexual health in middle-aged and older men: results from the European Male Ageing Study (EMAS).
BACKGROUND
Limited information is available concerning the general and sexual health status of European men.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the age-related changes in general and sexual health in middle-aged and older men from different countries of the European Union.


METHODS
This is a cross-sectional multicenter survey performed on a sample of 3,369 community-dwelling men aged 40-79 years old (mean 60 + or - 11 years). Subjects were randomly selected from eight European centers including centers from nontransitional (Florence [Italy], Leuven [Belgium], Malmö[Sweden], Manchester [United Kingdom], Santiago de Compostela [Spain]) and transitional countries (Lodz [Poland], Szeged [Hungary], Tartu [Estonia]).


METHODS
Different parameters were evaluated including the Beck's Depression Inventory for the quantification of depressive symptoms, the Short Form-36 Health Survey for the assessment of the quality of life (QoL), the International Prostate Symptom Score for the evaluation of lower urinary tract symptoms, and the European Male Ageing Study sexual function questionnaire for the study of sexual function.


RESULTS
More than 50% of subjects reported the presence of one or more common morbidities. Overall, hypertension (29%), obesity (24%), and heart diseases (16%) were the most prevalent conditions. Around 30% of men reported erectile dysfunction (ED) and 6% reported severe orgasmic impairment, both of which were closely associated with age and concomitant morbidities. Only 38% of men reporting ED were concerned about it. Furthermore, concern about ED increased with age, peaking in the 50-59 years age band, but decreased thereafter. Men in transitional countries reported a higher prevalence of morbidities and impairment of sexual function as well as a lower QoL.


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual health declined while concomitant morbidities increased in European men as a function of age. The burden of general and sexual health is higher in transitional countries, emphasizing the need to develop more effective strategies to promote healthy aging for men in these countries.
Corona
Giovanni
G
Andrology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
Lee
David M
DM
Forti
Gianni
G
O'Connor
Daryl B
DB
Maggi
Mario
M
O'Neill
Terence W
TW
Pendleton
Neil
N
Bartfai
Gyorgy
G
Boonen
Steven
S
Casanueva
Felipe F
FF
Finn
Joseph D
JD
Giwercman
Aleksander
A
Han
Thang S
TS
Huhtaniemi
Ilpo T
IT
Kula
Krzysztof
K
Lean
Michael E J
ME
Punab
Margus
M
Silman
Alan J
AJ
Vanderschueren
Dirk
D
Wu
Frederick C W
FC
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*