Erectile dysfunction: prevalence and relationship to depression, alcohol abuse and panic disorder

We studied the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in a sample of 829 Nigerian men, using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire. These men were also screened for depression, alcohol abuse and panic disorder using the Patient Health Questionnaire. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was 36% in men 30 years and below, 31% in those 31 to 40, 46% in those 41 to 50, and 58% in those 51 to 60. Among those men identified as having ED, 10% were depressed, 10.3% had alcohol abuse while 0.6% had panic disorder. Using a multiple linear regression model, age and depression were found to be good predictors of erectile dysfunction but not alcohol abuse and panic disorder. We suggest that ED may be much more common than is being reported. The use of simple questionnaires by doctors, especially those working in medical and surgical clinics and those in primary health care centers, could help in detecting more cases for whom the negative life impact of ED could be minimized.