Physical activity and prevalence of erectile dysfunction in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Dogo Study

Aims/IntroductionTo date, there is no evidence regarding the association between physical activity (PA) and erectile dysfunction (ED) among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated this issue among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and MethodsStudy participants were 460 male Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The definitions of exercise habit, walking habit and fast walking were based on a self-administered questionnaire regarding PA behavior. Participants were classified into one of four PA levels based on the number of Yes' answers to the three questions in the questionnaire: (i) lowest; (ii) lower; (iii) moderate; and (iv) higher. Severe ED and moderate-to-severe ED were based on Sexual Health Inventory for Men score <8 and <12, respectively. ResultsThe prevalence of moderate-to-severe ED, severe ED, exercise habit, walking habit, and fast walking was 64.6, 51.1, 36.3, 41.3 and 37.6%, respectively. Walking habit was independently inversely associated with moderate-to-severe ED and severe ED. Exercise habit was independently inversely associated with severe ED, but not moderate-to-severe ED. Higher PA was independently inversely associated with moderate-to-severe ED and severe ED (adjusted odds ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.21-0.85; and adjusted odds ratio 0.38, 95% CI: 0.19-0.73, respectively). There was a statistically significant inverse exposure-response relationship between the PA level and moderate-to-severe ED and severe ED (P for trend = 0.02 and 0.005), respectively. ConclusionsPA might be inversely associated with ED in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.