Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction among patients with type II diabetes mellitus at a tertiary care centre in Hyderabad

Abstract

Background: Men with diabetes who develop erectile dysfunction (ED) experience a substantial waning in quality-of-life as well as a rise in depressive symptoms. Regrettably, ED may go unnoticed as many clinicians do not question about sexual health. Objective: The objective is to determine the prevalence and risk factors of ED among patients with type II diabetes mellitus Methods: Analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out among 720 individuals with type II diabetes aged 30–70 years at the diabetes clinic of Malla Reddy Hospital from January 2019 to January 2022 after obtaining ethics committee approval. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) was assessed by taking a ratio of systolic blood pressure recorded at ankle to that recorded in the arm as per standard guidelines. Abridged version of the International Index of Erectile Function was used to assess ED. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), serum testosterone levels, and lipid profile were determined on fasting blood. Results: Mean age was 58.4 ± 7.8 years. The overall prevalence of ED in the present study was 68.7%. On univariable analysis, higher age, longer duration of diabetes, presence of hypertension, presence of peripheral arterial disease, higher levels of HbA1c, and lower levels of serum testosterone were significantly associated with the ED. On multivariable analysis increase in the duration of diabetes every 5 years, presence of hypertension, presence of peripheral arterial disease, HbA1c ≥7%, and testosterone <8 nmol/L except age were found to be significantly and independently associated with the ED. Conclusions: The prevalence of the ED was high in the present study. It was significantly and independently associated with the deficiency of the testosterone, poor control of the blood sugar, presence of the PAD, and the longer duration of the diabetes.