Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela: a population-based study (DENSA)

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. A 49-item questionnaire was completed by 1946 men aged 40 years and older. The age-adjusted combined prevalence of minimal, moderate, and complete ED for all three countries was 53.4%, with 19.8% of all men reporting moderate to complete ED. Age was the variable most strongly linked to ED; the prevalence of complete ED increased markedly in men older than 79 y of age (31.9%) and 70-79 y (17.2%) compared with men aged 40-49 y (<3%). Several medical conditions, such as hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and diabetes, and the use of medications to treat these conditions were correlated with the prevalence of ED. This study corroborates earlier studies demonstrating that ED is very common, increases dramatically with age, and has multiple correlates, including some that are also risk factors for cardiovascular disease.