Age at First Presentation for Erectile Dysfunction: Analysis of Changes over a 12-yr Period.
Age
Awareness
Erectile dysfunction
Health
Journal
European urology focus
ISSN: 2405-4569
Titre abrégé: Eur Urol Focus
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101665661
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Sep 2019
Sep 2019
Historique:
received:
17
01
2018
revised:
29
01
2018
accepted:
20
02
2018
pubmed:
7
3
2018
medline:
20
11
2020
entrez:
7
3
2018
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The awareness regarding erectile dysfunction (ED) may have increased over the past decade due to the widespread availability of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and the growing knowledge of a link between ED and men's overall health. We examined whether the increased awareness of ED has led to observable changes in patient characteristics among first-time assessments for ED. Data was collected from 1586 men seeking their first medical attention for ED at a single academic center during 2005-2017. Patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) to assess ED. Local polynomial regression models explored the relationship between patient characteristics and the year of first-time assessment. Linear and logistic regression models estimated the association between the time at first assessment and the investigated outcomes. Restricted cubic splines tested the nonlinearity for continuous variables. We observed a nonlinear correlation between age and year of assessment (p=0.0003); the probability that a patient aged <40 yr presented for ED increased from 13.5% in 2006 to 21.7% in 2017 (p=0.002). Patients assessed over the last period were significantly healthier (Charlson Comorbidity Index≥1; odds ratio [OR]: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-0.99, p=0.02). We observed an increase in the rate of smokers (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.14-1.23, p<0.0001) and in regularly physically active men (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.08, p=0.008) over the same period. No changes were observed in terms of baseline IIEF-Erectile function scores over time. The single center design is the main limitation of the study. Age at first presentation for ED significantly decreased over the past decade. Physicians should carefully assess EF even at younger age groups, suggesting lifestyle modifications and relevant treatments for comorbid conditions as soon as possible. Patients presenting for erectile dysfunction (ED) are younger than they were 10 yr ago. These findings may suggest an increase in ED awareness. Likewise, this age reduction could represent a worrisome increase in terms of ED incidence in young men.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The awareness regarding erectile dysfunction (ED) may have increased over the past decade due to the widespread availability of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors and the growing knowledge of a link between ED and men's overall health.
OBJECTIVE
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether the increased awareness of ED has led to observable changes in patient characteristics among first-time assessments for ED.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
METHODS
Data was collected from 1586 men seeking their first medical attention for ED at a single academic center during 2005-2017.
INTERVENTION
METHODS
Patients completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) to assess ED.
OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
METHODS
Local polynomial regression models explored the relationship between patient characteristics and the year of first-time assessment. Linear and logistic regression models estimated the association between the time at first assessment and the investigated outcomes. Restricted cubic splines tested the nonlinearity for continuous variables.
RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS
CONCLUSIONS
We observed a nonlinear correlation between age and year of assessment (p=0.0003); the probability that a patient aged <40 yr presented for ED increased from 13.5% in 2006 to 21.7% in 2017 (p=0.002). Patients assessed over the last period were significantly healthier (Charlson Comorbidity Index≥1; odds ratio [OR]: 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92-0.99, p=0.02). We observed an increase in the rate of smokers (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.14-1.23, p<0.0001) and in regularly physically active men (OR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.08, p=0.008) over the same period. No changes were observed in terms of baseline IIEF-Erectile function scores over time. The single center design is the main limitation of the study.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Age at first presentation for ED significantly decreased over the past decade. Physicians should carefully assess EF even at younger age groups, suggesting lifestyle modifications and relevant treatments for comorbid conditions as soon as possible.
PATIENT SUMMARY
RESULTS
Patients presenting for erectile dysfunction (ED) are younger than they were 10 yr ago. These findings may suggest an increase in ED awareness. Likewise, this age reduction could represent a worrisome increase in terms of ED incidence in young men.
Identifiants
pubmed: 29506875
pii: S2405-4569(18)30068-3
doi: 10.1016/j.euf.2018.02.006
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
899-905Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2018 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.