The prevalence and predictors of erectile dysfunction in men with newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of and risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: All consecutive samples of men newly diagnosed with type 2 DM attending the diabetes centre in the capital of Kuwait were included in the study. Face-to-face interviews with the men were conducted using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF)-5 questionnaire. A threshold IIEF-5 score of <21 was used to identify men with ED. Pertinent clinical and laboratory characteristics were collected. RESULTS: Of 323 men with newly diagnosed type 2 DM, 31% had ED; comparing potent men and men with ED, there were statistically significant differences for smoking, duration of smoking, hypertension, education level, body mass index and serum glycosylated haemoglobin level. Among these, age was the most important risk factor identified by multivariate logistic regression. CONCLUSION: About a third of men with newly diagnosed type 2 DM had ED; this was associated with many variables, but most notably with age at presentation.