Sexual dysfunction among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus attending diabetes clinics in primary healthcare centers in Bahrain-A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common problem among males with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but often goes underdiagnosed and underreported. This study aimed to measure the prevalence and risk factors of SD among males with T2DM attending diabetes clinics in Bahrain. A cross-sectional study was conducted in ten primary health centers in Bahrain using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: sociodemographic characteristics and the Sexual Assessment and Dysfunction in Diabetic Men (SAD-M) questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses, including logistic regression, were performed. A total of 313 patients with an average age of 54.3 ± 10.0 years were included. More than half of the patients had dyslipidemia (n = 220, 70.3%) and hypertension (n = 178, 56.9%). Approximately half of the participants had no morning erections (n = 161, 51.4%), and about a third had less than three sexual intercourse attempts in the last six months (n = 90, 28.8%). Of the participants, 32.6% had moderate SD, 42.5% had mild SD, and 25% had no SD. Univariate analysis showed that male patients with SD were older (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and had a higher body mass index (<i>P</i> = 0.036) compared to those without SD. In addition, unemployed patients (<i>P</i> < 0.001), Bahraini (<i>P</i> < 0.001), had diabetes for 10 years or more (<i>P</i> < 0.001) and had prostate and spinal diseases (<i>P</i> = 0.004 and <i>P</i> = 0.010, respectively) had higher rates of SD. Logistic regression analysis showed that older patients (<i>P</i> = 0.007) and patients with a diabetes duration of more than 10 years were more likely to have SD than their counterparts (OR = 14.908, <i>P</i> < 0.001). SD is a common problem among males with T2DM in Bahrain, especially among older patients and those with a prolonged history of diabetes. Therefore, primary care providers should consider screening for SD in male patients with T2DM.