Prevalence of sexual disorders in a selection-free diabetic population (JEVIN)

There is an el:tensive literature on sexual disorders among diabetic patien ts, but a shortage of studies on their prevalsncr in serection-free populat ions. In the present trial (JEVIN). 90% of all insulin-treated diabetic pat ients (IDDM/NIDDM, n = 127/117) aged 16-60 years and living in the city of Jena (100 247 inhabitants) were studied. Each subject underwent a structure d interview followed by a clinical and laboratory examination. The prevalen ce of sexual disorders was 32% in IDDM and 46% in NIDDM male patients. Pati ents with sexual disorders were older (IDDM 47.5 +/- 9.8 vs, 37.7 +/- 11.6. P = 0.0004; NIDDM 53.4 +/- 4.3 vs. 49.5 +/- 8.2 years, P = 0.04) and had l onger diabetes duration (IDDM 23.1 +/- 13.8 vs. 13.5 +/- 11.1, P = 0.001; N IDDM 12.4 +/- 7.5 vs. 8.4 +/- 5.8 years, P = 0.03) than patients without se xual disorders. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between th e groups as regards HbA1c, body-mass index and insulin dose/kg body weight. The prevalence of diabetes long-term complications in men with versus men without sexual disorders (IDDM,NIDDM): retinopathy, 65/53% vs. 50/18% (P = 0.34/0.03); neuropathy, 58/48% vs. 9/34% (P = 0.001/0.47); nephropathy, 65/ 50% vs. 12/36% (P = 0.001/0.45). In addition, all the patients completed st andardized questionnaires according to Bradley et al. and Lewis et al. to a ssess qualify of life and treatment satisfaction, and one question concerni ng sexual disorders. The: quality of life of IDDM patients with sexual diso rders was lower than that of patients without sexual disorders (42.2 +/- 11 .4 vs. 54.2 +/- 8.5, P = 0.0005), but there were: no differences (P < 0.05) in NIDDM patients. In women. the prevalence of sexual disorders was 18/42% in IDDM and NIDDM. Comparing these data with the literature and with repor ts from healthy controls, mostly there is clearly an underestimation of the prevalence of sexual disorders in diabetic populations. Physicians must ma ke more efforts to detect and treat sexual disorders, which may result in a n improvement of patients' duality of life. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Irela nd Ltd. All rights reserved.