A prospective study of evaluation of erectile dysfunction in male diabetic patients

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a problem getting or keeping an erection hard enough for satisfactory sexual performance. The global prevalence of ED is 3–76.5%. ED constitutes a large burden on society given its high prevalence and impact on quality of life. Diabetes is a common cause of organic ED. The pathophysiology of diabetes-induced erectile dysfunction is multifactorial. Prevalence of ED in diabetes rate range from 35 % to 85% depending on the study, versus 26% in general population. ED occurs 10-15 years earlier in men with diabetes than it does in sex-matched counterparts without diabetes. Material and methods: Study was conducted in male diabetic patients attending medical OPD and endocrinology OPD and those admitted in these wards of MB Hospital Udaipur from Jun 2021 to Jun 2022. It was a hospital based cross sectional study. ED was diagnosed by asking patients to complete International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaires. Then according to score patients were divided into 4 categories: Mild ED means score is between 17-21, mild to moderate ED if score is between 12-16, moderate ED if score is between 8-11 and severe ED if score is between 1-7. Now presence of ED and its severity was correlated with age, residence, duration of diabetes, glycemic status, lipid profile, complications, BMI, etc. Results: Prevalence of ED in male diabetic patients was found to be 67%. Among 100 cases with erectile dysfunction, 9 had mild ED (13.4%), 16 cases had mild to moderate (23.8%), 15 cases had moderate ED (22.3%) and 27 had severe ED (40.2%). Prevalence of ED was found to be proportional to age. Majority of cases in ED group are those with long standing diabetes. Correlation of ED with complication of diabetes like nephropathy and neuropathy was significant whereas not for retinopathy. Significant correlation was found between BMI and ED. Conclusion: ED prevalence was high among the diabetic men and it increased with age and duration of the disease. Presence of diabetic complications was significantly associated with ED. BMI was significantly associated with development of ED therefore lifestyle modification should be recommended to all patients.