title: Frailty and sexual health in older European men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been little research on how late-life frailty interrelates with sexual health. Our objective was to examine the association of frailty with sexual functioning and satisfaction among older men.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 1,504 men aged 60 to 79 years, participating in the European Male Aging Study. Self-report questionnaires measured overall sexual functioning, sexual function-related distress, and erectile dysfunction. Frailty status was defined using a phenotype (FP) or index (FI). Associations between frailty and sexual function were explored using regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the frailty phenotype, 5% of men were classified as frail, and the mean frailty index was 0.18 (SD = 0.12). Frailty was associated with decreasing overall sexual functioning and increasing sexual function-related distress in multiple linear regressions adjusted for age, smoking, alcohol consumption, living arrangements, comorbidities, and depression. Frailty was also associated with an increased odds of erectile dysfunction after adjustment for the same confounders: odds ratio = 1.99 (95% confidence interval = 1.14, 3.48) and 4.08 (95% confidence interval = 2.63, 6.36) for frailty phenotype and frailty index, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Frailty was associated with impaired overall sexual functioning, sexual function-related distress, and erectile dysfunction. Individuals assessed for frailty-related deficits may also benefit from an appraisal of sexual health as an important aspect of well-being and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Stopford Building, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK. david.m.lee@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Abdelouahid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tajar
authors.forename: Rathi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ravindrarajah
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Pye
authors.forename: Daryl B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boonen
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanderschueren
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pendleton
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bartfai
authors.forename: Felipe F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Casanueva
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forti
authors.forename: Aleksander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giwercman
authors.forename: Thang S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Ilpo T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Huhtaniemi
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kula
authors.forename: Michael E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lean
authors.forename: Margus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Punab
authors.forename: Frederick C W
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Terence W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: EMAS.; Frailty; Male health; Sexual function