Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and its moderate to severe associated factors among primary care clinics attendees

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction among men. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ED and factors associated with moderate to severe ED among men attending primary care clinics. This was a cross-sectional study conducted among men attending four primary care clinics in Selangor, Malaysia. The respondents were selected via systematic random sampling. ED was diagnosed using the five-item Malay version of the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire (5-IIEF) and divided into mild and moderate to severe. The respondents with ED were further given a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic, underlying comorbidities, smoking history, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Simple and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis. A total of 353 men were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction out of 497 respondents. Only 305 respondents completed the questionnaire. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 67–74%). Multiple logistic regression, revealed that age ≥ 60 years had an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 8.294, (95% CI: 2.064, 33.322), diabetes mellitus had an adjusted OR of 3.627, (95% CI: 2.080, 6.324), and sedentary behaviour (sitting time ≥ 8 h/day) had an adjusted OR of 5.840, (95% CI: 3.257, 10.471), which were significantly associated with moderate to severe ED. In conclusion, this study found a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among men attending primary care clinics. Age ≥ 60 years, diabetes mellitus, and sedentary behavior were significantly associated with moderate to severe ED. These findings underscore the need for targeted screening and intervention strategies in primary care settings, particularly for older men, those with diabetes, and individuals with prolonged sedentary behaviour.