RESUMEN
PURPOSE: The interest has been growing in the investigation and management of erectile dysfunction, but there is few report about prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Korea. The object of this study was to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction of men in rural region in Korea through a community based survey. Also, we investigated the relationship between risk factors and erectile dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 255 men aged 30 and over in chonnam province, Korea was randomly selected for determination of the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, and they participated in questionnaire survey including International Index of Erectile unction (IIEF), and clinical and laboratory examination that include blood pressure, ECG, blood glucose, urinalysis, serum level of lipid profiles, GOT, GPT and creatinine etc. Information on erectile dysfunction were collected by direct personal interview using IIEF. High risk factors of erectile dysfunction were divided according to estimated level and determined relationship with erectile dysfunction. RESULTS: Overall mean IIEF score was 20.6 7.3, and based on IIEF score, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 66.3% (169 of 255 men). The prevalence of erectile dysfunction of older aged men over 50 years was significantly higher than younger aged men. Also strong correlation was found between erectile dysfunction and diabetes mellitus, smoking. Although there was no statistical significance by multiple regression analysis, educational level, abnormal findings in ECG, history of chronic disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperlipidemia had relation to erectile dysfunction by ANOVA and Student t-test. And alcohol drinking, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were not statistically significant for development of erectile dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that the prevalence and correlations with risk factors of erectile dysfunction in local community. We hope that this study will aid in larger epidemiologic study and prevention of erectile dysfunction in whole land.