Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in Austria - Analysis of a health screening project

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men undergoing a health investigation. Methods: Men aged 30-69 yrs participating in a health screening project in the area of Vienna completed a 11-item questionnaire on ED which was extracted from the international index of erectile function (IIEF). In parallel, all men underwent a detailed health examination including physical assessment, evaluation of various lifestyle factors and a blood analysis with 14 parameters. Results: Within the total study population (n=832; 45.3+/-9.8 yrs), 8.2% reported no sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks, 5.1% reported moderate/severe ED, 13.1% mild and 73.6% no ED. ED, defined as any problem in maintaining erection until the end of sexual intercourse, increased from 12.5% in those aged 30-39 yrs to 15.3% at 40-49 yrs, 27.4% at 50-59 yrs and 45.2% in men 60-69 yrs. In parallel, the percentage of men without sexual intercourse during the previous four weeks increased from 7.4% at 30-39 yrs to 8.8% at 50-59 yrs and 17.0% at 60-69 yrs. By far the strongest correlate for ED was age; other factors were cardiovascular diseases, physical activity and diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: This study provides the first estimate of the prevalence of ED in different life decades of men in Vienna, and identifies a number of risk factors for this highly prevalent disorder in ageing men.