Prevalence of erectile dysfunction among Saudi type 2 diabetic patients

A. Hassan, K. Aburisheh, T.J. Sheikh, S.A. Meo, N.A. Ahmed, A.H. Al Sharqawi

University Diabetes Center, King Saud University, Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ahassan@ksu.edu.sa

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• Metabolism

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to determine the prevalence and etiology of erectile dysfunction in Saudi type 2 diabetic patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 429 Saudi type 2 diabetic male patients aged more than 30 years were recruited. Total and bio-available serum testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and free testosterone levels were measured by ELISA-IBL GMBH Germany.

RESULTS: 47 (12.6%) subjects had hypogonadism with total testosterone < 8 nmol/l and 109 (29.3%) had possible hypogonadism with a total testosterone between 8 and 12 nmol/l. Similarly, using bioavailable levels, 30 (8%) men had overt hypogonadism with bioavailable testosterone < 2.5 nmol/l and 89 (33.9%) men had possible hypogonadism with bioavailable testosterone between 2.5-4 nmol/l; while 266 (71.6%) patients with free testosterone < 0.255 nmol/l had hypogonadism. BMI and waist circumference were both significantly negatively correlated with testosterone levels in Saudi type 2 diabetic men.

CONCLUSIONS: Testosterone levels are frequently low in Saudi men with type 2 diabetes and majority of these patients have symptoms of hypogonadism. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was 86.7% in diabetic men with low testosterone level of 8-12 nmol/L. Obesity is an associated factor with low testosterone levels and ED in Saudi type 2 diabetic patients.

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