OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of hyposexuality, erectile dysfunction (ED) and defective ejaculation (DE) in the old and middle-aged males in Pingliang area.

METHODSThis investigation included 1 539 men aged > or = 50 years from 6 urban districts and 20 villages in the suburbs of Pingliang City, Gansu Province. We recorded and analyzed their scores on IIEF-5 and Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory for Urology (O'Leary 1995).

RESULTSA total of 1 230 subjects met the investigation criteria. They averaged 62.5 +/- 9.6 years of age (range 50-89 years), and were divided into four age groups: 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and > or = 80 years. The mean scores on IIEF-5 were 0-25 (9.4 +/- 8.6), sexual desire 0-8 (2.3 +/- 2.1), and ejaculation 0-8 (3.6 +/- 3.0). Hyposexuality, ED and DE were defined as sexual desire score < or = 2, IIEF-5 score = 0-21, and ejaculation score < or = 2, respectively. Based on these criteria, the incidence rates of hyposexuality, ED and DE were 57.96%, 92.27% and 36.91%, respectively, with statistically significant differences among different age groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of ED, hyposexuality and DE, particularly the incidence of ED, is positively correlated with the increase of age in the old and middle-aged males in Pingliang area.