OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and characteristics of sexual dysfunction in patients with chronic prostatitis (CP) in the high altitude area.

METHODSA total of 637 CP patients randomly recruited from different urologic clinics were divided into 4 groups according to their living altitudes. The subjects were scored on the National Institute of the Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), the Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation (C-ISFPE) and the questionnaire on ejaculatory difficulties from the University of Washington Symptom Score.

RESULTSIn the 637 CP patients, the overall incidences of premature ejaculation (PE), erectile dysfunction (ED) and difficult ejaculation (DE) were 28.4%, 17.6% and 23.9%, respectively, 9.9% with PE, ED and DE simultaneously. With the increase of the living altitude, the scores on IIEF-5 (P = 0.032) and C-ISFPE (P = 0. 047) were obviously decreased, and the incidences of PE (P = 0.047), ED (P = 0.046) and DE (P = 0.019) markedly elevated. Those with PE or ED experienced worse symptoms at a higher altitude (r = 0.249 or 0.267, P < 0.05). The differences were all statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence and severity of sexual dysfunction are positively correlated with the living altitude among CP patients.