Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical parameters associated with the occurrence of sexual dysfunction in male diabetic patients

Objectives: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is increasingly being recognized as an early marker of organic systemic disease and eventual death in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). This study was aimed at evaluating the clinical, anthropometric and biochemical parameters associated with the occurrence of SD in male type II diabetes DM patients. Materials and Methods: It was cross sectional, descriptive, hospital-based study conducted among persons with type 2 DM receiving care at the outpatient clinic of two healthcare facilities selected for the study. Clinical, biochemical and anthropometric parameters obtained from the patients were body mass index (BMI), blood pressure readings, glycosylated hemoglobin and fasting blood sugar values, testosterone level and lipid profile. Data on the patients’ sexual function was obtained using the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics as appropriate, as well as inferential statistics, where applicable, were used to determine associations with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 213 male type II DM patients were recruited into the study. The mean duration of DM among the respondents was 8 years. About 71.8% (153) of the participants were identified as having SD. The mean weight, height and BMI of the respondents was 73.4 ± 12.4 kg, 1.66 ± 0.007 m and 26.43 ± 4.03 kg/m 2 respectively. We found a statistically significant relationship between the presence of SD and the patients’ BMI (χ 2 = 220.5; p < 0.001), comorbid hypertension (χ 2 = 224.9; p < 0.001) and duration of DM (χ 2 = 30.3; p < 0.001). We also found a statistically significant association between the patients’ blood glucose levels (χ 2 = 4.73; p < 0.03) and the occurrence of SD. Conclusion: BMI, the presence of comorbid hypertension, duration of DM and patients’ blood glucose levels are significantly associated with the occurrence of SD in patients with type II DM. Routine monitoring of these parameters to identify risk factors for SD in patients with DM is recommended.