Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately one in five American men, appears to be associated with cardiovascular and other chronic diseases and may predict severity and a poor prognosis among those with heart disease, according to three studies in the January 23 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine. [/p[
In large part the result of new medications to treat erectile dysfunction, there has been a 50 percent increase in doctor visits related to erectile dysfunction from 1996 to 2000. Despite this, previous estimates of erectile dysfunction (ED), have not included a diverse population.
In response to this situation, Christopher S. Saigal, M.D., M.P.H., The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, and colleagues at the Urologic Diseases in America Project analyzed data from the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examinational Survey (NHANES). The goal was to arrive at a better understanding of U.S. national estimates of prevalence and risk factors for ED.
Recent Study on the Prevalence and Risk Factors Association with Erectile Dysfunction
Following recommendations from the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel on Impotence, erectile dysfunction was self-defined by subjects based on their answer to the question:How would you describe your ability to get and keep an erection adequate for satisfactory intercourse?
Responses included "always or almost always able," "usually able," "sometimes able," "never able," and "don't know."
Men who responded that they were “always, almost always able” or “usually able” to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse were considered to not have ED. Men who responded that they were “sometimes able” or “never able” to have an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse were considered to have ED. Those who refused to answer the question or responded “don’t know” were excluded from the study.
While the press release for the study begins by pointing out that the study found almost 1 in 5 men had ED, the facts, particularly in regards to aging, show a more predictable, and possibly less dire, picture of things. Here are some of the statistics from the study (figures may not add to 100% because of rounding):
- Men 20-29: 93.5% did not have ED, 6.5% had ED
- Men 30-39: 96.2% did not have ED, 3.8% had ED
- Men 40-49: 91.7% did not have ED, 8.2% had ED
The figures continue until the age of 75. 77% of men 75 and older were living with ED
In terms of other factors that might contribute to ED, including age and other medical conditions, findings included:
- Hispanic men had almost twice the risk of ED as white men.
- Obesity, hypertension, smoking and diabetes also were associated with risk of ED.
