Erectile Dysfunction

Prevalence

In the United States about 30 million American men suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction (ED). Of these, 10 to 20 million have a severe degree of ED resulting in the complete inability to attain or maintain a penile erection with numbers increasing by nearly 10 million by the year 2025.¹

As with other chronic disorders and the conditions that are commonly associated with ED (diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease), the prevalence of ED increases with advancing age, with an estimated prevalence of 39% in men aged 40 and 67% in those aged 70.²

Epidemiology

Incidence estimates have been published using data compiled from the Massachusetts male aging study (MALES).² Incidence data are necessary to assess risk and plan treatment and prevention strategies. The Massachusetts study data have suggested there will be approximately 17,781 new cases of erectile dysfunction in Massachusetts and 617,715 in the United States annually. The national incidence estimate may underestimate the true incidence, because Massachusetts is largely white, so likely the data are underestimated nationally for African Americans, Hispanics, and other groups.

Forecast

The worldwide incidence is projected to increase to greater than 320 million by 2025. ED accounts for more than 500,000 annual visits to health care professionals

Reference:
1. McKinlay JB. The worldwide prevalence and epidemiology of erectile dysfunction. Int J Impot Res. 2000 Oct;12 Suppl 4:S6-S11.
2. Johannes CB, Araujo AB , Feldman HA. Incidence of erectile dysfunction in men 40 to 69 years old: Longitudinal results from the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol. 163: 2000; 460-463.