Erectile Dysfunction Prevalence Rates
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 35-90% of men, with prevalence varying based on age, comorbidities, and study methodology. 1
General Population Prevalence
- The crude incidence rate of ED in the general population is approximately 26 cases per 1,000 man-years in men aged 40-69 years 1
- Prevalence increases significantly with age, with men in their 40s-60s with diabetes having ED rates similar to non-diabetic men over 70 years 1
- In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, age-adjusted ED risk was higher for men with lower education, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension 1
Risk Factors and Associated Conditions
- Diabetes significantly increases ED risk, with diabetic men having a twofold higher incidence rate (50 cases/1,000 man-years) compared to non-diabetic men 1
- In a large Italian study of 9,868 men with diabetes, 45.5% of those aged >59 years reported ED 1
- Major risk factors for ED include (odds ratios in brackets): 1
- Autonomic neuropathy (5.0)
- Diabetic foot (4.0)
- Peripheral neuropathy (3.3)
- Peripheral arterial disease (2.8)
- Nephropathy (2.3)
- Poor glycemic control (2.3)
- Retinopathy (2.2)
- Hypertension (2.1)
Special Populations
- Among men with type 1 diabetes in the DCCT/EDIC study after 22.1 years of diabetes duration: 1
- ED was present in 34%
- Orgasmic dysfunction in 20%
- Decreased libido in 55%
- ED is common after cancer treatment, with prevalence rates of: 1
- 45-75% in colorectal cancer survivors
- Up to 90% in prostate cancer survivors
Post-Treatment ED Rates
- After pelvic radiation therapy, approximately 36% of patients report new-onset ED at 2 years post-treatment 1
- Surgical shunting procedures for priapism have varying ED rates: 1
- Distal shunts (Winter, Ebbehøj, Al-Ghorab): 25% or less ED rate
- Proximal shunts (Quackels and Grayhack): approximately 50% ED rate
Medication-Related ED
- Drug therapy accounts for approximately 25% of ED cases 2
- Common culprits include antihypertensives (especially thiazide diuretics and beta-blockers) and psychotherapeutic drugs (particularly SSRIs) 2
Treatment Response Rates
- PDE5 inhibitors are effective in 60-65% of men with ED, including those with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and spinal cord injury 3
- For intraurethral alprostadil, studies report successful intercourse rates ranging from 29.5% to 78.1% 1
Understanding these prevalence rates is crucial for proper patient counseling and treatment planning, as ED significantly impacts quality of life and may be an early marker of underlying systemic conditions requiring evaluation and management.