SUMMARY :
This article brings an analysis of the results related to Erectile
Dysfunction (ED) from a wide research regarding sexual habits and difficulties
of the population. Carried out from February to April 2000 in seven Brazilian
cities, that research was named Brazilian Study of Sexual Behavior (BSSB).
2,835
subjects older than 18 years old answered this anonymous questionnaire, of which
47 % were men and 53 % women. 1,170 men have answered to the item erectile dysfunction
(ED). Most of them were Caucasian (58.1 %). More than half of them were married
(57.1 %) and catholic (67.6 %). ED prevalence was of 31.5 % (minimum ED), 12.1
% (moderate ED) and 2.6 % (complete ED) ; 53.8 % answered as not presenting any
degree of ED. Prevalence indexes have increased considerably with age. Complete
ED increased from 1.1 % (subjects aged less than 40 years old) to 11.1 % (among
men aged more than 70 years old).
Bivariate analyses were carried out adjusted
for age and multivariate analyses were carried out to estimate odds ratios with
confidence ranges of 95 % for potential covariates.
By comparing minimum or
absent ED with moderate or complete ED, we find a significant association (p?0.05)
for increased moderate or complete ED prevalence and : low education, homosexual
or bisexual orientation, black race, diabetes and depression.
Taking the minimum
or absent ED group as a reference, the estimated risk for the presence of premature
ejaculation (PE) was 2.33-fold for those presenting moderate or complete ED (1.59-3.40
; 95 % CI). For the lack of sexual desire (LSD) 5.52 (3.61-8.44 ; 95 % CI). The
presence of fears – as lack of erection, presenting premature ejaculation
and not being able to have consecutive sexual intercourses – was higher for
the group with moderate or complete ED, with odds ratios (ORs) estimated, respectively,
in 2.24 (1.57 — 3.19 ; 95 % CI) ; 1.40 (1.00 -1.95, 95 % CI ; p = 0.05) and
1.50 (1.08-2.07 ; 95 % CI).
Fears related to getting contaminated with
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and his partner becoming pregnant were lower
in moderate or complete ED, with ORs estimated in 0.60 (0.43-0.83 ; 95 % CI) and
0.62 (0.42-0.91 ; 95 % CI), respectively.
ED is, therefore, a public health
issue in Brazil, and the risk factors analysis suggests elements of essential
importance for therapeutic measures and, mainly for prevention and prognosis of
this disorder.