Association between Lifestyle and Biosocial Conditions with Erectile Dysfunction among Adult Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Nigeria

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most distressing often not discussed disorder affecting the male gender globally responsible for a lot of psychosocial distress. The objective of this study was to explore the association between lifestyle, biosocial conditions with erectile dysfunction among the adult males presenting at general outpatient clinic of our hospital. This was a study carried out at Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, Southern Nigeria. A well structured questionnaire was administered to 421 respondents. Results showed 219(52%) had erectile dysfunction while 202 (48%) didnot have erectile dysfunction. Factors associated with erectile dysfunction were age, tobacco use, alcohol intake, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, use of anti hypertensive and oral hypoglycaemic medications which were statistically significant. Body mass index, family functionality, use of illicit drugs and polypharmacy were not associated with erectile dysfunction. However, the independent risk factors were age, tobacco use and alcohol intake.Emphasis on health education and life style modificaation are highly recommended to reduce the burden of erectile dysfunction among our patients.