Determinants of Erectile Dysfunction Risk in a Large Series of Italian Men Attending Andrology Clinics

• Published in: European urology 2004, Vol.45 (1), p.87-91
• Main Authors: Mirone, V, Ricci, E, Gentile, V, Basile Fasolo, C, Parazzini, F
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Ambulatory Care Facilities; Biological and medical sciences; Erectile dysfunction; Erectile Dysfunction - epidemiology; Humans; Italy; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Risk factor; Risk Factors; Smoking; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tobacco, tobacco smoking; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0302-2838; 1873-7560
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2003.08.005

Objective: To assess determinants of ED in men who asked for a free of charge andrologic consultation during a week focused on andrologic prevention in Italy. Methods: Men were invited to attend 178 participating andrology centers for a free of charge visit for counselling about urologic or andrologic conditions. Data were recorded with a simple questionnaire used by all centers. Results: 2499 (19.9%) were diagnosed having ED. The frequency of ED increased with age, ranging from 4.6% in men under 25 years, to 37.6% in men over 74. In comparison with men with primary education the OR of ED was 0.8 (95% CI 0.7–0.9) in men with secondary education and 0.7 (95% CI 0.6–0.9) in those with university degree. After adjusting for age, the risk of ED was significantly higher in men consuming more than 3 glasses/day of alcoholic drinking (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–2.0), in subjects smoking more than 10 cigarettes/day (OR 1.2, CI 95% 1.1–1.4) and in former smokers (OR 1.2, CI 95% 1.1–1.4). Men performing at least two hours per week of physical activity had a decreased risk of ED (OR 0.8, CI 95% 0.7–0.9). We found an increased risk of ED in men with diabetes (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1–1.4), hypertension (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.4), cardiopathy (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.3–1.8) and hypercholesterolemia (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2–1.6). Conclusions: This study provides further data on determinants of ED risk in a large data set and underlines the relationship between ED and cardiovascular diseases.