Impotence Affects Older Men Worldwide

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - An international study of middle-aged and older men shows that erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes more common as men age, no matter where they live.

"ED is an international problem," conclude the authors of the study, which was partially funded by Viagra maker Pfizer Inc.

The researchers found that although the prevalence of ED varied among the four nations they studied, the condition's association with aging and with certain health conditions and lifestyle factors knew no boundaries.

Among the roughly 2,400 men surveyed, 34% in Japan, 22% in Malaysia, 17% in Italy and 15% in Brazil said they were either only sometimes able or never able to maintain an erection.

Overall, ED increased with age, with 54% of men ages 65 to 70 reporting some degree of impotence. That compared with 9% of men in their early 40s.

In addition, there were close associations between ED and health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and depression, as well as smoking links that have been established in past research.

Exercise and higher education levels were tied to a lower ED risk.

Dr. Alfredo Nicolosi, of the National Research Council in Milan, Italy, and colleagues report the findings in the January issue of the journal Urology.

The results, the authors write, confirm that ED is "a widespread problem among mature men, regardless of epidemiologic, ethnic or environmental diversities."

But the differences in ED prevalence reported among the four countries cannot be easily explained, according to the researchers.

They speculate that several factors, including genetic influences and cultural differences--both in the perception of and willingness to report ED--could be at play.

SOURCE: Urology 2003;61:201-206.

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