Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency symptoms in a rural population in Uganda

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of ED and the prevalence of hypogonadism symptoms in Buluba, a rural population in Uganda. METHODS: Prospective, consecutive, cross-sectional study was conducted between September and December 2010. 902 men attending the outpatient clinic of Saint Francis Hospital in Buluba were enrolled. From these 902 men, 204 had been previously diagnosed as HIV+ followed in a specific HIV outpatient clinic in the same centre. Variables age, weight, height, tobacco use and drinking habits, Erection Hardness Score and Aging Male Symptoms Scale (AMSS), as well as Hypertension, Diabetes, Dyslipidemia, lung diseases, peptic ulcer, urinary symptoms and HIV were prospectively recorded. A multivariate analysis was used to analyze the variables related to erectile function and AMSS. RESULTS: Mean age was 39 +/- 11,8 years. ED rate was 47,8% (Mild ED 28,8%; Moderate 14%; Severe 5%). In the multivariate analysis, variables age (Odds ratio (OR) 1,032), HIV+ (OR 11,280), AMSS (OR 1,138) and AMMS >= 50 (OR 1,164) were related to ED. When excluding HIV+ population, 36,8% of men suffered ED (Mild ED 23%; Moderate 10,2%; Severe 3,6%). 5,7% of men had severe symptoms (>= 50) of hypogonadism according to AMSS. No clinical variable was related to the presence of AMSS >= 50 in the multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of ED in a rural milieu in Uganda is high. Variables age, AMSS and AMSS >= 50 and HIV+ were related to ED. The rate of AMSS >= 50 was 5,7%. No variable was found to be related to AMSS >= 50.