RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in a rural area of Korea and to examine the relationship between the prevalence and correlates of subjects. METHOD: This study was done as a part of the chronic disease survey of rural area by the Asan Foundation. Among 30 years or older population from Jung Eup, a rural area of Korea, 711 male subjects were sampled using a cluster probability sampling method. Trained interviewers visited and interviewed subjects aged 30 years or older with a structured interview. ED was categorized as 'none', 'mild', 'moderate', or 'severe' according to the ability to 'attain and/or maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse'. Response rate was 54.3% (N=386). RESULTS: The age weighted prevalence of ED was 27.2% (minimal 14.1%, moderate 7.6%, severe 5.5%). Prevalence and severity increased with age. Liver disease and underweight were significantly (p<0.05) associated with ED. Smoking seemed to be correlated with ED, but did not reach statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: ED was highly prevalent in the rural community of Korea. Medical, sociodemographic, and lifestyle variables associated with ED may alert physicians to patients at risk for ED and offer insight to its etiology.