1. ¹Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
2. ²Department of Urology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
3. ³Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Hsin Chuang, Taipei, Taiwan
4. ⁴School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Correspondence: Dr H-Y Chiou, School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wu-Hsing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan. E-mail: hychiou@tmu.edu.tw

Received 23 January 2006; Revised 7 March 2006; Accepted 10 March 2006; Published online 11 May 2006.

Abstract

The association between hypogonadism, quality of life (QoL), and erectile dysfunction (ED) among the middle-aged and aged male in Taiwan is evaluated. A total of 680 study subjects aged 40 years old were recruited from Northern (n=276), Middle (n=238), and Southern (n=202) Taiwan, respectively. ED was diagnosed by score of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Taiwan version questionnaire for QoL includes domain 1 (physical domain), domain 2 (psychological domain), domain 3 (social relationship domain), and domain 4 (environmental domain) was used to measure QoL. Blood hormones, including FSH, LH, Prolactin, SHBG, total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone (cFT), and bioavailable testosterone (Bio-T), were determined. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate crude and multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of risk factors and its 95% confidence interval. A significantly inverse association between concentration of serum cFT and Bio-T, and severity of ED was observed. Scores of QoL of Domain 1–4 were significantly decreased with the increament of severity of ED. Significant correlations were found between IIEF scores and four domains of QoL, respectively. After adjustment for age, cFT and Bio-T, study subjects with ED (IIEF21) would have significantly high risk of low level of QoL in four domains. In conclusion, a significant association between low levels of serum calculated cFT, Bio-T, and severity of ED was found. In addition, abnormal erectile function significantly associated with low level of QoL in four domains.