Prevalence of sexual disorders in a selection-free diabetic population (JEVIN)

Abstract

There is an extensive literature on sexual disorders among diabetic patients, but a shortage of studies on their prevalence in selection-free populations. In the present trial (JEVIN), 90% of all insulin-treated diabetic patients (IDDM/NIDDM, n=127/117) aged 16–60 years and living in the city of Jena (100 247 inhabitants) were studied. Each subject underwent a structured interview followed by a clinical and laboratory examination. The prevalence of sexual disorders was 32% in IDDM and 46% in NIDDM male patients. Patients with sexual disorders were older (IDDM 47.5±9.8 vs. 37.7±11.6, P=0.0004; NIDDM 53.4±4.3 vs. 49.5±8.2 years, P=0.04) and had longer diabetes duration (IDDM 23.1±13.8 vs. 13.5±11.1, P=0.001; NIDDM 12.4±7.5 vs. 8.4±5.8 years, P=0.03) than patients without sexual disorders. There were no significant differences ( P<0.05) between the groups as regards HbA1c, body-mass index and insulin dose/kg body weight. The prevalence of diabetes long-term complications in men with versus men without sexual disorders (IDDM/NIDDM): retinopathy, 65/53% vs. 50/18% ( P=0.34/0.03); neuropathy, 58/48% vs. 9/34% ( P=0.001/0.47); nephropathy, 65/50% vs. 12/36% ( P=0.001/0.45). In addition, all the patients completed standardized questionnaires according to Bradley et al. and Lewis et al. to assess quality of life and treatment satisfaction, and one question concerning sexual disorders. The quality of life of IDDM patients with sexual disorders was lower than that of patients without sexual disorders (42.2±11.4 vs. 54.2±8.5, P=0.0005), but there were no differences ( P<0.05) in NIDDM patients. In women, the prevalence of sexual disorders was 18/42% in IDDM and NIDDM. Comparing these data with the literature and with reports from healthy controls, mostly there is clearly an underestimation of the prevalence of sexual disorders in diabetic populations. Physicians must make more efforts to detect and treat sexual disorders, which may result in an improvement of patients’ quality of life.