Erectile Dysfunction In Patients Of Diabetes Mellitus - A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives One of the independent risk factor for erectile dysfunction is diabetes mellitus. The present study planned to determine the prevalence and factors associated with ED in DM. Methodology The present hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of one year from January 2012 to December 2012 on a total of 208 patients with type 1 or 2 diabetes attending Department of General Surgery, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Belgaum. National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved questionnaire for International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) was used to interview each patient to assess for ED. Results In the present study 12.98% of patients had erectile dysfunction score between 13 to 18 suggestive of mild to moderate erectile dysfunction and 9.62% with 19 to 24 scores suggestive of mild degree. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 32.21%. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was significantly high in 71 to 80 years age group (75%) and 61 to 70 years (35.90%) (p<0.001). The mean age in patients with erectile dysfunction was significantly high (58.40 ± 10.96 years) compared to those without erectile dysfunction (51.00 ± 11.16 years) (p<0.001) Of the 119 patients with duration of diabetes between one to five years 42.02% had erectile dysfunction and of the 3 patients with duration of more than five years 66.67% had erectile dysfunction (p<0.001). Prevalence of erectile dysfunction was higher in patients with HbA1c levels between 7.0 to 8.5 (32.76%) and > 8.5 (37.07%) compared to those who had HbA1c < 7.0 (14.71%). (p<0.049). Prevalence of erectile dysfunction was higher in patients with history of smoking (63.64%) (p<0.001) and alcohol intake (51.85%) (p<0.001). The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was also significantly high in patients with history of hypertension (59.7%) (p<0.001). Conclusion and interpretation The erectile dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus was significantly prevalent with age, diabetic duration of diabetes, history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, glycemic control and hypertriglyceridemia.