Erectiestoornissen bij mannen van 50 jaar en ouder: prevalentie, risicofactoren en ervaren hinder

To determine prevalence rates for erectile dysfunction and its determinants in a population-based sample of men aged 50 years or over as well as the level of concern about the dysfunction.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

A group of 1688 men aged 50-78 years, resident in Krimpen aan den IJssel, the Netherlands, was investigated by means of self-administered questionnaires and measurements at a health centre and a urology outpatient department. The study population represented a 50 response to an invitation to participate. This was issued to all 3924 male residents in the age range concerned, except men with radical prostatectomy, neurogenic bladder disease, previous prostate or bladder cancer, inability to fill out the forms or to visit the outpatient department, or a negative advice from the general practitioner regarding participation.

Results

The prevalence of severe erectile dysfunction (i.e. erections of severely reduced rigidity or no erections) increased from 3 to 26 between the age groups 50-54 and 70-78 years, respectively. One-third of these men were concerned about this dysfunction, compared to 8 of the men with mild dysfunction (i.e. erections with mildly decreased rigidity). Age, smoking, obesity, urinary tract symptoms, and treatment for cardiovascular problems as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were significantly related to severe erectile dysfunction. In the total population, urinary tract symptoms and obesity were the greatest risk factors for erectile dysfunction.

Conclusion

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction increased with increasing age group, but only a minority of the men were concerned about the dysfunction. Therefore ‘changed function’ appears to be a better term than ‘dysfunction’.