Frequency of self-reporting of erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients : a single center experience

Abstract EN

Objective : To determine the frequency of erectile dysfunction in a referral diabetic clinic and the rate of self-reporting in relation to age and duration of diabetes.

Methods : A group of 258 males were interviewed in the diabetic clinic in the first half of 2001.

Mean age (± standard deviation) was 52.3 ± 10.62 (range 35-75 years) with mean duration of diabetes of 9.8 ± 6.8 years.

About 6 % of the sample had type 1 diabetes and 94 % had type 2 diabetes.

Results : the duration of erectile dysfunction was 33.8 ± 27.6 months (1.5-120 months).

Erectile dysfunction was found in 67.4 % (n = 174) of the interviewed patients.

Only 40.2 % (n = 70) of patients reported erectile dysfunction, which was directly proportionate to age.

Higher frequency of erectile dysfunction was found in patients with duration of > 10 years but with a lower self-report rate.

Conclusion : the frequency of self-reporting is, however, low.

Erectile dysfunction should be looked for routinely as part of the follow-up in the diabetic clinic and treated accordingly.