title: Correlates of PDE5i use among subjects with erectile dysfunction in two population-based surveys.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is thought to affect some 150 million men worldwide, but many men with ED symptoms do not seek treatment. Existing surveys suggest that men with severe ED and who report support from their partners are more likely to receive treatment than were others. Less is known, however, concerning the influence of sociomedical factors such as income and body composition on receipt of treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the importance of socioeconomic status, comorbidities, and body composition on receipt of treatment for ED symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data on 638 men enrolled in the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) survey reporting ED symptoms and/or treatment for ED as evidenced by phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) use. Logistic regression was employed to assess the relative strength of association between receipt of treatment and socioeconomic factors, body mass index, and medical factors. A replication of these results was then provided via a parallel model using the 2004 follow-up of the Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES).
  
  
  METHODS
  In BACH, ED was deemed present if a subject scored 16 points or fewer on the five-item International Index of Erectile Function or reported PDE5i use. In MALES, presence of ED was indicated by use of a validated single question querying ED severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Controlling for age, body composition and other factors, increased household income, availability of a sexual partner, and provider diagnosis of high blood pressure were positively associated with treatment seeking via the use of PDE5i therapy in BACH. Results on data available in MALES produced similar results for household income and partner availability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide evidence that financial disadvantage may present a barrier to treatment of ED, an increasingly important sentinel marker of the cardiovascular and overall health among aging men.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, New England Research Institutes, Inc., Watertown, MA 02472, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Travison
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Fisher
authors.forename: Andre B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: Raymond C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McKinlay
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058986:Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors