Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction and its Associated Factors among Men in Government Health Clinics in Kuantan, Pahang

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a significant issue that should not be ignored in the clinical setting and can negatively affect the quality of life of patients and their partners. This study aims to determine the prevalence of ED and its associated factors among men who visited 12 government health clinics in Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July and October 2021, 300 males aged 18 to 60 participated in this cross-sectional study at 12 government health clinics in Kuantan. Information on demographic data, medical history, and lifestyle of the participants was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire that included a validated Malay version of the 21 item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS 21) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of self-reported ED was 69.3%. In terms of severity, 45.7% had mild, 20.7% mild-to-moderate, 2.3% moderate, and 1% severe ED. Multivariate analysis showed that ED associated with diabetes (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.13–7.79); anxiety (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.06 – 7.67) and household income (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.18–0.95). CONCLUSION: ED was high in our study population. Diabetes mellitus, anxiety and household income were significantly associated with ED.