Prevalence and risk factors for erectile dysfunction in korean men: Results of an epidemiological study

Introduction. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and associated risk factors has been described in many countries, but there are still only a few studies from Asia. Aim. We investigated the prevalences of ED and premature ejaculation (PE) in Korean men and the impact of general health, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors on these conditions. Methods. To assess ED and PE, 1,570 Korean men aged 40-79 years were interviewed with a self-administered questionnaire on sexual function and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5. In addition, blood chemistry was analyzed for each subject. Main Outcome Measures. The prevalences of ED and PE were obtained from self-reported ED, IIEF-5 scoring, EF (erectile function) domain scoring, and self-reported intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT). The data were analyzed for the presence of risk factors and the relationship of general health, lifestyle, and psychosocial factors with ED. Results. The prevalences of ED among Korean men were 13.4% (self-reported ED) and 32.4% (IIEF-5 score ≤ 17), and PE prevalences were 11% (IELT ≤ 2-min) and 33.1% (IELT ≤ 5-min). ED was more prevalent in the subject groups with older age, lower income, or lower education, and in subjects without a spouse. ED prevalence was positively associated with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, psychological stress, and obesity. Levels of serum hemoglobin (Hb) A1c, triglycerides, testosterone, or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) were significantly different between the ED and non-ED groups. Conclusions. The prevalences of ED and PE in Korean men were 13.4% (self-reported ED) and 11% (IELT ≤ 2-min), respectively. Risk factors and other socioeconomic and mental health factors were associated with ED prevalence. Biochemical factors such as HbA1c, triglycerides, testosterone, and DHEA-S were significantly related to ED prevalence.