Association Between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Erectile Dysfunction among a Nationally Representative Sample of American Men.
BACKGROUND
Emerging work suggests an inverse association between physical activity and erectile dysfunction (ED). The majority of this cross-sectional research comes from convenience samples and all studies on this topic have employed self-report physical activity methodology.


OBJECTIVE
Therefore, the purpose of this brief-report, confirmatory research study was to examine the association between objectively measured physical activity and ED in a national sample of Americans.


METHODS
Data from the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used. Six hundred ninety-two adults between the ages of 50 and 85 years (representing 33.2 million adults) constituted the analytic sample. Participants wore an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer (ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL, USA) for up to 7 days with ED assessed via self-report.


METHODS
The main outcome measure used was ED assessed via self-report.


RESULTS
After adjustments, for every 30 min/day increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, participants had a 43% reduced odds of having ED (odds ratioadjusted  = 0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.81; P = 0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
This confirmatory study employing an objective measure of physical activity in a national sample suggests an inverse association between physical activity and ED.
Center for Health Behavior Research, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
Paul D
PD
Loprinzi
School of Applied Sciences, Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
Meghan
M
Edwards
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
Accelerometry; Epidemiology; Sexual Dysfunction