Erectile dysfunction among male active component service members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2004-2013

MSMR. 2014 Sep;21(9):13-6.

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is considered a common medical disorder and it is the most common sexual complaint reported by men to healthcare providers. The epidemiology of this condition in active component U.S. service members has been unclear. This report describes the counts and rates of newly diagnosed ED in active component servicemen during 2004-2013. There were 100,248 incident cases of ED (rate: 8.4 per 1,000 person-years) during that period. ED cases classified as psychogenic comprised almost half of all ED cases. Annual incidence rates more than doubled between 2004 and 2013. Higher incidence rates were associated with advancing age; black, non-Hispanic ethnicity; marital status of separated, divorced, and widowed; higher level of education; and never having deployed. The editorial comments discuss comparisons with findings in the published literature, the limitations of this study, and possible additional analyses.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Erectile Dysfunction / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Military Personnel*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult