Relationship between glycaemic control and the severity of erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes attending the diabetic clinic at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in men who are in their sixth decade of life and older, particularly those with diabetes. This study aimed to determine whether long-term glycaemic control affects the severity of ED in diabetic male patients attending the diabetic clinic at Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital (KPTH).

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data collected at the KPTH Diabetic Clinic, Gauteng, South Africa. Eighty-one male patients aged over 55 years who attended the diabetic clinic in 2017 were selected to participate in this study. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire was used to determine the severity of ED, and the mean glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) over the preceding two years was used to assess glycaemic control.

Results: The SHIM distinguished between ED categories among the participants (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.964). The HbA1c did not differ significantly between SHIM ED categories (p = 0.867). No significant difference was detected between the mean HbA1c in those with ED (8.26%, IQR: 7.2 to 9.4) and those without ED (7.6%, IQR: 6.7 to 8.9) (p = 0.494). Multivariate analyses revealed that a longer duration of diabetes, moderate albuminuria, the presence of any peripheral neuropathy, the number of antihypertensive agents used, and smoking history were associated with ED. However, the mean HbA1c of the preceding two years did not significantly contribute to ED (p = 0.133).

Conclusion: The SHIM reliably distinguished between ED categories in this population, with high internal consistency; however, glycaemic control, as measured by HbA1c over the preceding two years, did not play a significant role in predicting the presence or severity of ED.